US Senate votes to curb Trump's war powers in rebuke over Iran conflict

The Republican-controlled US Senate dealt President Donald Trump a symbolic but stinging rebuke on Tuesday, voting 50-48 to direct him to halt American military action against Iran or seek congressional approval. Four Republicans joined Democrats in approving the war powers resolution, which passed the House of Representatives earlier this month by a similar margin. Trump immediately dismissed the measure as “poorly timed and meaningless,” writing on Truth Social that he had Iran “on the ropes” and that the Senate had “made my job more difficult.” The vote is the first time both chambers have approved a concurrent resolution instructing a president to end a military action since the War Powers Resolution of 1973 was enacted. But because it is a concurrent resolution, it expresses only the sentiment of Congress and carries no force of law; it will not be sent to Trump for his consideration. Middle East analyst Laura Blumenfeld called it “more of a slap on a wrist than a handcuff,” though she added that “it does reflect the American people’s sentiments.” A White House official argued the vote was meaningless because a ceasefire on 7 April had ended hostilities, and said the measure passed only because two Republican senators – Mitch McConnell and Dave McCormick – were absent. The official also noted the administration is expected to ask Congress for tens of billions of dollars to fund the war. The resolution reflects growing unease on Capitol Hill about the conflict, which began on 28 February and has proved deeply unpopular. A poll released on Tuesday showed just one in four Americans believe the war was worth its costs, and a majority fear a truce with Tehran will not hold. Democratic Senator Tim Kaine urged support for the measure, arguing that “Congress has to own this responsibility” under the constitution. Representative Gregory Meeks, who sponsored the House version, said he views it as binding and will pursue “all legal avenues” to ensure compliance. But constitutional experts are sceptical. Scott Anderson, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and senior editor of Lawfare, said the executive branch “will likely ignore it on constitutional grounds, and it’s not clear who might have standing to sue to enforce it.” The four Republican defectors were Rand Paul, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins and Bill Cassidy. Democrat John Fetterman was the only member of his party to vote against. Democratic lawmakers have promised further war powers votes to force Republicans to go on record as the conflict approaches its fifth month, while Trump warns that if peace negotiations falter, he may resume hostilities.