by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
(Worthy News) – The U.S. Senate late Wednesday rejected a Democratic-led effort to restrict President Donald Trump’s military authority against Iran, handing the White House a significant victory as the administration continues negotiations with Tehran.
The measure, led by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., would have directed the president to remove U.S. forces from hostilities “within or against Iran” unless Congress formally authorized military action. It failed 50-47, with Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., voting present and Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., switching to oppose the resolution after receiving a White House briefing.
The vote came one day after the Senate approved a similar war powers resolution in a symbolic rebuke of Trump’s handling of the Iran conflict. That earlier vote was aided by Republican defections and absences, but Wednesday’s late-night reversal was hailed by Trump and GOP leaders as a show of strength.
“Wow! The Senate just changed its vote on Iran from 50-48 against, to 50-47 for,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Rand Paul and Bill Cassidy changed. Thank you to Leader John Thune, Lindsey Graham, Bernie Moreno, and all. This vote puts Iran on notice!”
Cassidy had clashed sharply with Trump earlier Wednesday during a closed-door Senate Republican lunch, reportedly pressing the administration for more information about its Iran strategy. After the meeting, Cassidy received a briefing at the White House from Vice President JD Vance and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.
“I appreciate the quick invitation to the White House to address many of my concerns,” Cassidy wrote on X after voting against the resolution.
Paul, a longtime critic of expansive executive war powers, said his position had not changed, but he voted present “to give the President more space and leverage to negotiate a lasting peace.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., later told reporters that Trump was pleased with the outcome. The vote also gave Senate Republicans a badly needed point of unity after weeks of internal tension over Iran, election legislation, and Trump’s decision to delay signing a bipartisan housing bill until Congress advances his proof-of-citizenship voting measure.
Democrats argued the resolution was necessary to reassert Congress’s constitutional role over war powers. Republicans countered that passing it during sensitive negotiations would weaken the administration’s hand against Iran.
Although the war powers measures were largely symbolic, Wednesday’s vote sent a clear political message: Senate Republicans, after a turbulent day of private confrontation and public pressure, moved back behind Trump as he seeks to maintain leverage over Tehran.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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