The Senate voted 50-47 on Tuesday to move forward with a resolution that would force President Donald Trump to end the war in Iran, a procedural step that exposed new cracks inside the Republican ranks. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., joined the push after voting no in earlier attempts, as the measure moved one step closer to a final showdown.
Cassidy’s switch stood out because it came just days after he lost his renomination primary over the weekend, after facing opposition from Trump. He said he supported the administration’s effort to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program but argued that the White House and Pentagon had left Congress in the dark on Operation Epic Fury. In Louisiana, he said, he had heard from people, including Trump supporters, who were worried about the war. “Until the administration provides clarity, no congressional authorization or extension can be justified,” Cassidy said.
He was not alone in crossing party lines. Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine also voted yes on the procedural motion. Every Democrat backed the resolution except Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, giving the push a bipartisan edge even as it remained short of final passage. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer cast the vote as a sign that Republicans were starting to break. “Vote by vote, Democrats are breaking through Republicans’ wall of silence on Trump’s illegal war,” he said.
The timing mattered because three senators — John Cornyn, Thom Tillis and Tommy Tuberville — were absent for Tuesday’s vote. If all three later oppose the resolution, the count would be tied 50-50 and the measure would fail. If one more Republican votes yes, it would pass the Senate. Even then, it would still have to clear the Republican-controlled House and almost certainly face a presidential veto.
The resolution was introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and says Congress directs the president to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Iran unless Congress has specifically authorized the fighting by a declaration of war or a use-of-force authorization. Tuesday’s vote was only to advance the measure, not the final Senate decision, and it was unclear when that final vote might come. For now, the chamber has done what it has not yet done on this war: put Trump’s authority to keep fighting on a live, winnable vote.
