US President Donald Trump on Wednesday lashed out at the Senate after it passed a war powers resolution directing him to halt military action against Iran, calling the vote "poorly timed and meaningless" and accusing four Republican senators who backed it of making his job harder.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Iran was on the "ropes" and "ready to go down for the fall" and was "willing to give us practically anything" when the Senate voted. He added that Iran had reached out to his team asking what the vote meant, and said the Republican senators who crossed the aisle had "provided aid and comfort to the Enemy." He vowed to get the deal done "one way or the other."
Also read: US Senate joins House in voting to halt Iran war, rebuking Trump
The Senate voted 50-48 in favour of the resolution, with four Republicans — Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Rand Paul of Kentucky, and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, joining Democrats in support. Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania voted against the resolution.
Two Republicans, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Senator Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania, did not vote. McConnell was hospitalised this month. Had both been present and voted against the resolution, it would have failed on a 50-50 tie.
Tuesday's vote marked the first time a war powers resolution had successfully passed both chambers of Congress. The House had passed the same resolution 215-208 earlier this month, with four Republicans joining Democrats in support.
The resolution directs the President to remove US Armed Forces from hostilities against Iran unless explicitly authorised by a declaration of war or a congressional authorisation for use of military force.
A White House official said the Senate vote had "no significance," arguing that the resolution would neither go to Trump's desk nor have any force of law, and that the measure passed only because two Republicans were absent. The official also said the resolution was moot as hostilities had terminated with a ceasefire on April 7.
The vote comes as the Pentagon is seeking $80 billion from Congress, mostly to backfill munitions and stockpiles used in the Iran war. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is on Capitol Hill this week seeking the supplemental funding.
The Senate has voted on a war powers resolution nine other times since the start of the conflict, but none of the earlier votes reached the simple majority threshold needed for passage.
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Under the 1973 War Powers Act, such a concurrent resolution does not go to the White House for the president's signature. The White House has maintained that the resolution is largely symbolic and has no force of law. Legal experts have said the constitutionality of the War Powers Act is likely to be settled in the courts.
Senate Republican Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota said on Tuesday he expected Congress would review and vote on an eventual Iran peace deal.
