Senate rejects measure directing Trump to end Iran war

Senate defeats withdrawal resolution

The Senate on Thursday defeated a House-passed resolution directing President Trump to withdraw U.S. troops from the conflict with Iran. The vote left the measure without approval from both chambers of Congress.

Four Republican senators joined nearly the entire Senate Democratic caucus in supporting the war powers resolution. Their votes showed that objections to Trump’s handling of the conflict extended beyond Democrats, even as most Senate Republicans opposed the measure and it failed.

The House passed the resolution in July. The Senate’s decision means that earlier House action will not produce the congressional directive sought by the measure.

What the vote means

The resolution focused on whether U.S. troops should remain involved in the Iran conflict under Trump’s direction. Its defeat means the Senate did not order the president to carry out the withdrawal described in the House-passed measure.

The result also separates two questions within the Senate: whether lawmakers are dissatisfied with the president’s handling of the war, and whether enough senators support a formal withdrawal directive. Four Republicans voted for that directive, but the resolution still lacked the support needed to pass.

The next steps depend on whether members of Congress pursue another war powers measure or use other congressional action to address U.S. involvement. Senators’ future votes and public positions will show whether Republican dissatisfaction grows, remains limited to a small group or changes the chamber’s response to the conflict.