The Senate voted down a war powers resolution to block Trump from furthering the war he and Israel began against Iran last Saturday.
In a 47-53 vote, the measure fell short of the simple majority it needed to advance. Only two lawmakers crossed the aisle, but the resolution needed five Republicans to vote in favor of it and only Rand Paul, R-Ky., voted with the Democrats.
Democrat John Fetterman, D-Pa., voted with Republicans.
The vote marks the second time that Senator Tim Kaine, D-Va., forced a vote on a war powers resolution over Iran. In June 2025, the Senate failed to pass a similar resolution after the Trump administration chose to bomb three Iranian nuclear sites.
The resolution, dated January 29, was drafted “to direct the removal of the United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.” The resolution was a joint effort with Paul as a co-sponsor.
The vote was supposed to take place before Saturday’s strike on Iran, but the operation took place before the vote could be held, thus ramping up the urgency of it.
“They have shifting goals, different goals all the time, different answers every day. And I am truly worried about mission creep,” Senate Minority Chuck Schumer, D-NY., said.
Even if the measure eventually passes, Trump could veto it. If that happens, the House and Senate would need a two-thirds majority to overturn the veto. That is not likely to happen in the face of a GOP majority in both chambers and Democrats such as Fetterman siding with Republicans.
For Kaine, while he acknowledges that the resolution may not ever move, having votes on the record is important.
“If you don’t have the guts to vote yes or no on a war vote, how dare you send our sons and daughters into war where they risk their lives,” he said.
Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense, has said that the operation is just getting started and could last for weeks.
“Iran’s capabilities are evaporating by the hour, while American strength grows fiercer, smarter and utterly dominant. More bombers and more fighters are arriving just today,” he said on Wednesday.
A House vote on a similar measure took place on Thursday and also failed.
