Bill Cassidy slams Trump for treating Congress as 'merely an appendage' over Iran war

WASHINGTON, DC: Republican Senator Bill Cassidy accused President Donald Trump of treating Congress as "merely an appendage" during the Iran conflict, describing a rare public clash with the president over executive power after securing the war briefing he had demanded.

The Louisiana senator said his confrontation came after Trump sharply criticized him and three other Republican senators who backed a symbolic war powers resolution. Cassidy argued the dispute underscored Congress' constitutional role in overseeing military action.

Bill Cassidy says Trump sidelined Congress

Speaking on CBS News' ‘Face the Nation’, Cassidy recalled confronting Trump during a Capitol Hill lunch after the president "berated" Republican senators who supported the resolution.

Cassidy said his "Irish temper" got the better of him. "I raised my volume to match his," he said, echoing remarks he had made previously about the exchange.

The senator said his frustration centered on what he viewed as the administration's failure to properly brief lawmakers on the Iran conflict.

"The founding fathers designed it so that there would not be too powerful an institution of a presidency," Cassidy said, adding that Congress exists to "reflect all of the American people, not just the will of one person."

He then delivered his sharpest criticism of Trump's approach, saying the president had acted "as if Congress is merely an appendage, and frankly, sometimes Congress acts like it's an appendage."

Trump grants a briefing after Capitol Hill clash

Cassidy said the confrontation ultimately achieved its immediate goal.

According to the senator, Trump later agreed to provide the briefing he had requested, with Vice President JD Vance and special envoy Steve Witkoff meeting him to discuss the conflict.

"I accomplished the mission," Cassidy said, explaining that he withdrew his support for the war powers resolution after receiving the briefing.

The interview marked one of Cassidy's strongest public criticisms of Trump, even after the Louisiana senator's political standing weakened.

Trump endorsed Rep Julia Letlow against Cassidy in May's Republican primary, and Letlow went on to win Saturday's runoff election, putting her in position to replace him in November's general election.

Cassidy has previously broken with Trump, including voting to convict him during his second impeachment trial following the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack.

Bill Cassidy questions Trump's broader priorities

Beyond the Iran dispute, Cassidy questioned Trump's domestic agenda, arguing the administration should focus less on the Save America Act and more on easing financial pressure for American families.

"If I were president, I'd be focused on what a family around the kitchen table is looking at as they go through their bills," Cassidy said. "How do you make their life better?"

He also criticized the direction of the Iran conflict, saying, "The fact is that a medium-sized power at this point is perceived to have fought a superpower to a draw," while adding that the war had cost $29 billion and claimed 13 American lives.

Cassidy also warned he could oppose elements tied to acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's confirmation, objecting to Justice Department proposals including a $1.8 billion "weaponization fund" and efforts to permanently shield Trump and his family from IRS audits.

"I absolutely object to that," Cassidy said. "Leaders should be held to a higher standard, not a different standard. They should be more accountable ... I would object to anything that goes against the spirit of that, and making one person above the law is wrong."