Sen. Bill Cassidy, the Louisiana Republican who lost his primary Saturday because President Trump endorsed his opponent, got a little revenge on Tuesday by helping Democrats advance a resolution to end the president’s conflict with Iran.
The 50-47 procedural vote discharges a Democrat-led war powers resolution to terminate hostilities with Iran, absent congressional approval. This allows the measure to skip committee consideration and get an up-or-down vote on the floor.
Mr. Cassidy previously opposed Democrats’ similar war powers resolutions but flipped his vote on Tuesday, bringing the number of Republican senators voting to end the war up to four.
“While I support the administration’s efforts to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program, the White House and Pentagon have left Congress in the dark on Operation Epic Fury,” he said. “In Louisiana, I’ve heard from people, including President Trump’s supporters, who are concerned about this war. Until the administration provides clarity, no congressional authorization or extension can be justified.”
The final vote on the war powers measure, which has not yet been scheduled, may still fail. Three Republican absences affected the outcome of Tuesday’s procedural vote.
If GOP Sens. John Cornyn of Texas, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama join other Republicans in opposition on the final vote, it would fail in a 50-50 tie that Vice President J.D. Vance would not break in Democrats’ direction.
Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Rand Paul of Kentucky also voted for the war powers resolution. Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman was the only Democrat to oppose it.
Mr. Trump told reporters earlier Tuesday that Democrats’ war powers votes were purely political but still harming his ability to cut a peace deal with Iran that will achieve his objective of ensuring they never have a nuclear weapon.
“We’re negotiating with Iran, and then you have the Democrats – I call them the Dumbocrats – putting in a bill that Trump should immediately stop,” he said.
“How do you feel when you’re negotiating, you’re winning every point, and they say, ‘But in Washington, they want to stop you from negotiating,’” Mr. Trump said. “It’s only political. It’s the Democrats. They’re dumb.”
Mr. Trump said he may have to give Iran “another big hit” if the negotiations do not progress. He canceled a strike planned for Monday because intermediary countries involved in the negotiations convinced him to do so.
GOP support for terminating hostilities with Iran has ticked up slightly since the conflict extended past the 60-day deadline for the president to obtain congressional approval under the War Powers Act.
Mr. Trump argued that hostilities had already been terminated by a ceasefire, but there have been additional military actions since then.
“Today proved our pressure is working: Republicans are starting to crack, and momentum is building to check him,” said Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat.
