Senate reverses Iran war powers rebuke after Trump pressure

Senate Republicans backed away from an earlier bipartisan rebuke of President Donald Trump on Wednesday night, rejecting a similar Iran war powers measure just a day after the chamber had voted to curb his authority. The late-night reversal came after Trump publicly attacked Republicans who supported the first vote and confronted senators at the Capitol over what he called their interference with his Iran strategy.

On Tuesday, June 23, the Senate approved a war powers resolution by 50-48, with Republicans Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joining Democrats. By Wednesday, June 24, GOP leaders had pushed a second vote as a way to restore party unity and calm the White House. The revised result preserved Trump's current posture on Iran.

The House had already passed a similar resolution earlier in June by 215-208, with four Republicans siding with Democrats. Together, the House vote and the Senate’s initial approval marked the first time both chambers had approved a resolution directing a president to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities since the War Powers Resolution of 1973.

The conflict began on February 28, 2026, and lawmakers in both parties have demanded more information about Trump's memorandum of understanding with Tehran, including sanctions relief, the unfreezing of Iranian assets and a proposed $300 billion reconstruction or economic development fund. The memorandum includes a 14-point framework and a 60-day negotiating period.