Senate once again refuses to restrain Trump in Iran war powers vote

WorldPolitics
16 Apr 2026 • 3:31 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Senate once again refuses to restrain Trump in Iran war powers vote

  • A Democratic-led resolution aiming to restrict President Donald Trump and the Pentagon from initiating further military operations in Iran without congressional approval has failed in the Senate.
  • The measure was rejected by a vote of 47-52, with Democratic Sen. John Fetterman voting against his party and Republican Sen. Rand Paul supporting the resolution.
  • The vote marked the fourth time this year that the Senate has voted to cede its war powers to the president in a conflict that Democrats say is illegal and unjustified.
  • The vote followed Trump's recent social media post threatening to end Iranian "civilization," which sparked widespread condemnation and calls for restrictions on his war-making powers.
  • The outcome highlights the Republican caucus's continued loyalty to the administration's foreign policy, despite internal party concerns about its potential impact on the upcoming midterm elections.

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