President Donald Trump publicly rebuked the Senate on Wednesday for voting to end military operations in Iran, calling the resolution "meaningless" and suggesting it could undermine ongoing negotiations. The comments followed a tense private meeting with Senate Republicans where the President reportedly confronted members of his own party over the bipartisan vote.
During a closed-door lunch, Trump expressed anger toward the four Republican senators who joined Democrats in supporting the war powers resolution. Senators present described the discussion devolving into a shouting match, with Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana reportedly pushing back against the President's criticisms. Cassidy stated he voted for war powers until he received a briefing and did not wish to be "bullied."
The Senate's vote, largely symbolic as it cannot force the President to withdraw troops, marked the first time the chamber formally approved a war powers resolution concerning the Iran conflict. The resolution directs the President to end military operations or seek congressional authorization to continue them.
Trump, speaking to TIME in the Oval Office hours after the contentious meeting, argued that the Senate's action occurred at a critical juncture in negotiations and could embolden Iran. "Right in the middle of one of the key things, which we’re going to get anyway, we have breaking news: The Senate has voted that they’d like Trump to stop the war," Trump said. He further characterized Democrats involved as "Dum-ocrats."
Conversely, Democrats and the senators who supported the resolution have argued that congressional oversight is necessary for military operations that have extended beyond their original scope and objectives.
The lunch meeting with Senate Republicans was also intended to address Trump's priority legislation, the SAVE America Act, which proposes election-related restrictions. However, the discussion was reportedly dominated by the Iran vote. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has previously stated that the SAVE America Act lacks sufficient votes to overcome procedural hurdles, deeming its passage "just not realistic."
Earlier on Wednesday, Trump abruptly canceled the signing of a bipartisan housing bill, linking its approval to the passage of the SAVE America Act. The housing bill can still proceed without the President's signature.
Senator Lindsey Graham, a supporter of military action in Iran, echoed some of the President's concerns, stating on social media that the vote could have the "unintended consequence of extending the conflict."