Two Republican senators reversed their votes Wednesday night, handing President Donald Trump a critical legislative victory after Democrats tried to strip his war powers in the Iran conflict.
The Senate rejected a resolution from Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) that would have required Trump to withdraw U.S. military forces from combat with Iran unless Congress voted to authorize the action. The measure failed 47-50-1 after Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) switched their votes.
Just one day earlier, four Republicans had broken ranks to advance the Democrat-backed resolution.
Paul voted present on Wednesday. Cassidy voted against advancing the measure.
“The Senate just changed its vote on Iran from 50-48 against, to 50-47 for. Rand Paul and Bill Cassidy changed. This vote puts Iran on notice!”
Trump had blasted Tuesday’s initial vote as “poorly timed and meaningless,” saying it “provided aid and comfort” to the enemy and hampered his negotiations with Iran.
According to Fox News reporting, Trump met with Cassidy and Paul at the White House on Wednesday in what sources described as a contentious meeting. Whatever Trump said behind closed doors worked — both senators flipped their votes hours later.
Trump celebrated the reversal on Truth Social Wednesday night, thanking Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) for their efforts in defeating the Democrat resolution.
Kaine’s resolution initially passed the House of Representatives before Senate Republicans blocked it Wednesday night. The measure would have forced the president to remove U.S. military forces from engaging in combat “within or against Iran” without explicit congressional authorization.
The failed vote leaves Trump’s war powers intact as his administration continues military operations and diplomatic negotiations with Iran.
