The US Senate voted Tuesday to direct President Donald Trump to halt US military action against Iran, the latest rebuke to the Republican president from an increasingly restive Congress as lawmakers seek to reassert their constitutional authority over war-making powers.
The Senate approved the war powers resolution by a 50–48 vote, with four Republicans joining Democrats in support of the measure. The legislation had already passed the House of Representatives earlier this month, making it the first war powers resolution to clear both chambers of Congress since the War Powers Act—a federal law intended to check the president’s power to engage in armed conflict without Congress’ consent—became law in 1973.
The vote reflects growing unease, including among some Republicans, over the conflict that began on Feb. 28 when the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran. Public skepticism about the war has also increased, with a Reuters/Ipsos poll released Tuesday showing that only one in four Americans believes the conflict was worth its costs.
While the resolution is likely to remain largely symbolic, it represents a political setback for Trump, who had until recently had enjoyed near-unanimous support from congressional Republicans. Trump began his second term with an overall 52% approval rating, which has taken a significant plunge to 34% in late June.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump dismissed the vote as “poorly timed and meaningless,” arguing that the measure has no legal force because it does not require presidential approval. He asserted that the legislative challenge disrupts executive efforts to negotiate a peace agreement with Tehran at a moment when the Iranian government is on the “ropes.”
The Senate action follows a similar vote in the House, where the resolution passed 215–208 with support from four Republicans and all Democrats. As reported by CNN, several Republicans have increasingly challenged the White House on issues ranging from war funding to other administration priorities ahead of November’s midterm elections.
Legal experts say the measure’s ultimate impact remains uncertain. Although the 1973 War Powers Act was intended to give Congress a mechanism for ending military operations, a 1983 Supreme Court ruling suggested that such measures may require presidential approval to carry legal force.
That constitutional ambiguity means the courts may ultimately have to decide whether the resolution is binding or merely symbolic. According to The Guardian, those who voted in favor view the vote as an important assertion of congressional authority regardless of whether the administration complies.
US and Iranian negotiators met last Sunday for an extended round of talks on the sidelines of the Lucerne Summit in Switzerland, following the two countries’ signing on June 17 of a memorandum of understanding to end the war and reach a “comprehensive peace” agreement.
