WASHINGTON, June 25 (DC Times Online) — The Senate rejected Sen. Tim Kaine’s Iran war powers resolution 50-47 on Wednesday, blocking an effort to limit President Donald Trump’s authority to keep U.S. forces in hostilities involving Iran without new congressional approval. Sen. Rand Paul voted present.
The vote followed a 50-47 procedural advance of the same measure last month. Sen. Susan Collins and Sen. Lisa Murkowski again voted in favor, while Sen. John Fetterman voted no. Sens. Mitch McConnell and Dave McCormick did not vote.
The outcome came after Trump met behind closed doors with Senate Republicans at a lunch meeting where he criticized lawmakers over the earlier Iran vote, according to senators who later described the session. Sen. Bill Cassidy said Trump “raised his voice” and that “I lost my temper.”
After the vote, Trump thanked allies on Truth Social and said the vote “puts Iran on notice.” The Senate action came one day after lawmakers approved a separate, symbolic House-passed Iran resolution 50-48, following House passage of a similar measure earlier in the month.
