U.S. Senate votes 50-48 to end Iran war, delivering historic rebuke to Trump

Senate vote marks bipartisan rebuke

On Tuesday, the Senate voted 50-48 in favor of a war powers resolution directing President Trump to remove U.S. forces from hostilities with Iran. Four Republicans, Rand Paul, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, and Bill Cassidy, joined every Democrat except John Fetterman, who opposed the measure. The resolution had passed the House earlier this month 215-208.

First legislative move to end a war under 1973 Act

This was the first time both chambers of Congress approved a resolution under the War Powers Resolution of 1973 to halt a military conflict. The measure does not require the president's signature, but the White House insists it is unconstitutional and thus not binding. Legal experts say the question will likely end up in court.

The executive branch will likely ignore it on constitutional grounds, and it's not clear who might have standing to sue to enforce it.

Senate Foreign Relations Chair Jim Risch dismissed the resolution as effectively meaningless.

Whatever happens, it will have no consequences. The president will pay no attention to it.

War and peace efforts

The conflict, which began on February 28, has become increasingly unpopular. Trump's administration is negotiating a peace agreement with Iran and signed a memorandum of understanding last week. Senator Tim Kaine, a co-author of the resolution, argued the vote was still meaningful.

We withdrew from the most active phase of the war, and this is the perfect moment for Congress to ask: what should the next chapter be, rather than letting one man decide?

Chuck Schumer said the cost of the war continues to mount. "Every second this war continues, the cost for the American people increases," he said. Republicans have also expressed skepticism about the memorandum and war's political toll.