Senate rejects effort to restrain Trump on Iran as GOP backs his strikes
on nuclear sites
[June 28, 2025]
By JOEY CAPPELLETTI
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic efforts in the Senate to prevent President
Donald Trump from further escalating with Iran fell short Friday, with
Republicans blocking a resolution that marked Congress’ first attempt to
reassert its war powers following U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
The resolution, authored by Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, aimed to affirm
that Trump should seek authorization from Congress before launching more
military action against Iran. Asked Friday if he would bomb Iranian
nuclear sites again if he deemed necessary, Trump said, “Sure, without
question.”
The measure was defeated in a 53-47 vote in the Republican-held Senate.
One Democrat, Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, joined Republicans in
opposition, while Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky was the only Republican to
vote in favor.
Most Republicans have said Iran posed an imminent threat that required
decisive action from Trump, and they backed his decision to bomb three
Iranian nuclear sites last weekend without seeking congressional
approval.
“Of course, we can debate the scope and strategy of our military
engagements,” said Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn. “But we must not shackle
our president in the middle of a crisis when lives are on the line.”
Democrats cast doubt on that justification, arguing the president should
have come to Congress first. They also said the president did not update
them adequately, with Congress' first briefings taking place Thursday.
“The idea is this: We shouldn’t send our sons and daughters into war
unless there’s a political consensus that this is a good idea, this is a
national interest,” Kaine said in a Thursday interview with The
Associated Press. The resolution, Kaine said, wasn't aimed at
restricting the president’s ability to defend against a threat, but that
"if it’s offense, let’s really make sure we’re making the right
decision.”
In a statement following Friday's vote, Kaine said he was “disappointed
that many of my colleagues are not willing to stand up and say Congress"
should be a part of a decision to go to war.
Democrats' argument for backing the resolution centered on the War
Powers Resolution, passed in the early 1970s, which requires the
president “in every possible instance” to “consult with Congress before
introducing United States Armed Forces.”
Speaking on the Senate floor ahead of Friday's vote, Paul said he would
back the resolution, saying that “despite the tactical success of our
strikes, they may end up proving to be a strategic failure.”
“It is unclear if this intervention will fully curtail Iran's nuclear
aspirations,” said Paul.
Trump is just the latest in a line of presidents to test the limits of
the resolution — though he’s done so at a time when he’s often bristling
at the nation's checks and balances.
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Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., arrives for a hearing with Defense Secretary
Pete Hegseth on the Pentagon budget and the crisis between Iran and
Israel, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, June 18, 2025. Sen.
Kaine introduced a resolution Monday seeking to prevent the U.S.
from getting involved in a military conflict with Iran without
congressional approval. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Trump on Monday sent a letter to Congress — as required by the War
Powers Resolution — that said strikes on Iran over the weekend were
“limited in scope and purpose” and “designed to minimize casualties,
deter future attacks and limit the risk of escalation.”
But following classified briefings with top White House officials
this week, some lawmakers remain skeptical about how imminent the
threat truly was.
“There was no imminent threat to the United States,” said Rep. Jim
Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, after
Friday’s classified briefings.
“There’s always an Iranian threat to the world. But, I have not seen
anything to suggest that the threat from the Iranians was radically
different last Saturday than it was two Saturdays ago,” Himes said.
Despite Democratic skepticism, nearly all Republicans applauded
Trump’s decision to strike Iran. And for GOP senators, supporting
the resolution would have meant rebuking the president at the same
time they’re working to pass his major legislative package.
Kaine proposed a similar resolution in 2020 aimed at limiting
Trump’s authority to launch military operations against Iran. Among
the eight Republicans who joined Democrats in approving the
resolution was Indiana Sen. Todd Young.
After Thursday’s classified briefing for the Senate, Young said he
was “confident that Iran was prepared to pose a significant threat”
and that, given Trump’s stated goal of no further escalation, “I do
not believe this resolution is necessary at this time.”
“Should the Administration’s posture change or events dictate the
consideration of additional American military action, Congress
should be consulted so we can best support those efforts and weigh
in on behalf of our constituents,” Young said in a statement.
Trump has said that a ceasefire between Israel and Iran is now in
place. But he and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have verbally sparred in
recent days, with the ayatollah warning the U.S. not to launch
future strikes on Iran.
White House officials have said they expect to restart talks soon
with Iran, though nothing has been scheduled.
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Associated Press reporter Leah Askarinam contributed to this report.
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