Senate reverses vote on Iran war after volatile meeting with Trump
Senate reverses vote on Iran war after volatile meeting with Trump
Erin Mansfield, USA TODAY Thu, June 25, 2026 at 12:54 PM UTC
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Senate reverses vote on Iran war after volatile meeting with Trump
Two Republican senators reversed their positions on Donald Trump's military power in Iran, just hours after a raised-voice Capitol Hill meeting between lawmakers and the president.
Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana changed their votes in a late-night June 24 session, and both posted on social media that their change of heart came after meeting with the Trump administration.
"Wow! The Senate just changed its vote on Iran from 50-48 against, to 50-47 for," Trump posted on Truth Social. "Rand Paul and Bill Cassidy changed. Thank you to Leader John Thune, Lindsey Graham, Bernie Moreno, and all. This vote puts Iran on notice!"
The vote is largely symbolic but appeared to mollify the president, who earlier in the day canceled a ceremonial signing of a bipartisan housing bill in order to exert pressure on the Senate to pass an unrelated election law bill.
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The Senate previously, on June 23, passed another largely symbolic resolution rebuking Trump's war in Iran. Four Republicans, including Paul and Cassidy, sided with Democrats in that vote.
"My opinion on the debate over war and executive power has not changed and I have voted that way several times," Paul wrote on social media before the June 24 vote. But since hostilities seem to be over and the President asked me to give consideration to his negotiating position, I will do so."
Cassidy thanked Vice President JD Vance and Steve Witkoff, Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, for a meeting earlier in the day "to address many of my concerns."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Senate votes with Trump on Iran war after he punts housing bill
Source: “AOL Breaking”