President Trump's handling of the military conflict with Iran is facing a growing rebellion from within his own party in the Senate, as four Republican senators have already voted to advance a war powers resolution that would compel the president to withdraw U.S. forces. Democrats now believe they are within striking distance of the five GOP votes needed to pass the measure.
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), the resolution's sponsor, expressed cautious optimism. We think we can have a narrow win,
he told The Hill. I don't have one absolutely pinned down, but I think I'm close,
he added, referring to the hunt for a fifth Republican supporter.
The erosion of GOP support has accelerated as the conflict drags into its 15th week, far exceeding Trump's initial prediction of a four- to five-week campaign after joint U.S.-Israeli strikes began on Feb. 28. The war has now passed the 100-day mark since Trump formally notified Congress on March 2, triggering the 1973 War Powers Act clock.
The GOP defectors include Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.), who was the first Republican to back the resolution, followed by Sen. Susan Collins (Maine), Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), and Sen. Bill Cassidy (La.), who joined after losing his primary on May 16. Paul argued that continued hostilities could drive even more Republicans to support the measure. The more hostilities continue, the more likely people are to vote for it,
he said Wednesday.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) is seen as a potential swing vote, having grown increasingly vocal about the need for GOP senators to assert independence from Trump. Tillis missed votes on Monday and Tuesday and was unavailable for comment. Another possible supporter is Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah), who has insisted that Congress must authorize the conflict once it stretches beyond 90 days. Curtis declined to comment as he rushed to a vote Wednesday.
Public opinion has turned sharply against the war. A University of Maryland Critical Issues Poll from May 15-21 found that 63 percent of independents and 33 percent of Republicans believe the conflict has harmed U.S. interests. An Economist/YouGov poll from June 5-8 showed 62 percent of Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of Iran, including 67 percent of independents and 25 percent of Republicans.
Meanwhile, stock markets tumbled Wednesday and oil prices climbed as the U.S. and Iran traded strikes. Trump warned Tehran would pay the price
for slow-walking peace talks and fumed that Iran was playing us for suckers.
The administration has been engaged in largely ineffective negotiations, with a fragile ceasefire in place since April 8 that both sides have periodically violated with limited strikes.
Not all Republicans are eager to end the campaign. Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) are urging Trump to finish the job.
Cornyn called for pedal to the metal,
arguing that any deal with the Iranian regime would be unreliable. How do you negotiate with somebody you can't trust?
he asked.
Other GOP senators like Todd Young (Ind.) and Josh Hawley (Mo.), who previously supported a war powers resolution on Venezuela, are holding the line against the Iran measure. Young called the repeated votes a political exercise
and demanded a clear plan for withdrawal. Hawley noted the ceasefire and said Trump had wound down offensive operations, adding, That's a good thing. I'm for ending this.
As the conflict grinds on, the White House is also facing scrutiny on other fronts. Trump's Board of Peace is under fire over funding gaps and the Gaza stalemate, while rising inflation has become a political liability. Trump's 'I Love Inflation' remark stunned observers as prices hit 4.2% in May, compounding the pressure on the administration.
