Cassidy flips Iran war powers vote hours after shouting match with Trump, Senate kills the measure

WASHINGTON, DC: Senator Bill Cassidy reversed his position on an Iran war powers measure just hours after a tense exchange with President Donald Trump, helping Senate Republicans defeat the resolution on Wednesday, June 24.

The vote came after Cassidy publicly defended confronting Trump over concerns about information being shared with Congress regarding the Iran conflict and negotiations with Tehran. The Senate ultimately rejected the measure in a 50-47 vote, after Cassidy and Senator Rand Paul changed their positions from the previous day’s vote. 

Senate blocks Iran War Powers measure, as Cassidy flips

The Senate voted against advancing a resolution that would have directed Trump to remove US forces from hostilities involving Iran unless Congress authorized further military action.

The measure had advanced in an earlier procedural vote on Tuesday, June 23, with four Republican senators joining Democrats to support it. However, later support narrowed as Cassidy voted against moving the resolution forward, and Paul voted present.

Cassidy’s change followed a closed-door Senate Republican lunch with Trump, where the senator raised concerns about the administration’s handling of the Iran conflict and the level of information provided to lawmakers and the public.

“The American people just need to know what's going on with Iran,” Cassidy said. “I don't think there's been sufficient information shared with Congress or with the American people.” Cassidy acknowledged that the exchange became heated, saying, “voices were raised, to put it that way.”

He also defended his response to Trump’s criticism of his position.“I'm not gonna be bullied into silence when I'm sticking up for the American people,” Cassidy said. The senator said he lost his temper during the exchange after Trump raised his voice. “But again, I matched his tone and his volume, and it went back and forth.”

Trump says measure will hurt Iran talks

Trump criticized Republican senators who supported the war powers resolution, arguing the vote came at the wrong time as his administration pursued negotiations with Iran. During the Republican lunch, Trump called Cassidy a “lunatic” while objecting to the senator’s support for the measure.

Trump had previously argued that the resolution sent the wrong message to Tehran and could affect his ability to negotiate an agreement. He said the vote created uncertainty during a period when his administration was seeking progress in talks with Iran.

After the Senate vote, Trump thanked lawmakers who supported his position, using the opportunity to warn Iran as well. “Thank you to leader John Thune, Lindsey Graham, Bernie Moreno, and all. This vote puts Iran on notice!” Trump wrote.

Cassidy later said he received additional briefings from Vice President JD Vance and special envoy Steve Witkoff, writing that the discussions “address(ed) many of my concerns.”

Paul explained his decision to vote present, saying he wanted to give Trump more room to negotiate. “Since hostilities seem to be over and the President asked me to give consideration to his negotiating position, I will do so," Paul wrote.