The US Senate on Tuesday approved a war powers resolution aimed at preventing President Donald Trump from continuing military conflict with Iran, delivering a bipartisan rebuke over an unpopular engagement. The measure passed by a razor-thin 50-48 vote, with four Republican senators joining nearly all Democrats to support the directive.
The resolution calls on the Trump administration to withdraw US armed forces from hostilities against Iran, undercutting the president's authority as commander-in-chief. It mirrors a House-passed version that cleared that chamber 215-208 earlier this month, sending the measure to the White House where it faces an almost certain veto.
The four GOP defectors—Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, and Rand Paul of Kentucky—broke with their party to back the measure. Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman was the sole member of his caucus to vote against it, highlighting unusual cross-party dynamics on a politically charged issue.
Public polling has shown the Iran conflict remains broadly unpopular with the American electorate, putting pressure on lawmakers in swing districts and states. The symbolic nature of the resolution, which lacks veto-proof margins, means its primary impact is political rather than operational, forcing members to take a public stance on executive war powers.
The outcome underscores deepening tension between Congress and the executive branch over military engagement, though conservative critics argue the resolution unduly restricts the president's ability to respond to threats.