Here are the 4 Republicans Who Betrayed Trump, Voted with Democrats
Four Senate Republicans broke ranks Tuesday and joined Democrats in a symbolic but stinging rebuke of President Trump’s Iran policy, voting to approve a war powers resolution aimed at forcing the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities with Iran unless Congress authorizes the mission.
The resolution passed 50-48, according to Fox News, with Republican Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana joining nearly every Senate Democrat. Fox News reported the measure “won’t actually curb” the president’s authority because it is a concurrent resolution that carries no binding legal force and will not go to Trump’s desk.
CBS News reported that the vote marked the first time the Iran war powers measure has cleared both chambers of Congress. The House passed the resolution earlier this month, 215-208, with four Republicans joining Democrats.
For Trump allies, the vote amounted to a betrayal at a critical moment, as the White House tries to preserve leverage over Tehran and defend the administration’s handling of the Iran conflict.
Trump previously blasted Republicans who crossed him on the House vote, writing that they were “GRANDSTANDERS!” and adding, “They should be ashamed of themselves,” according to PolitiFact and PBS NewsHour.
Sen. Susan Collins defended her support for limiting continued hostilities, saying in an earlier statement that “the President’s authority as Commander-in-Chief is not without limits.” Collins said Congress has “an essential role in decisions of war and peace” and argued that any further military action must have “a clear mission, achievable goals, and a defined strategy.”
Democrats celebrated the Senate vote as a constitutional victory. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., argued, according to Fox News, that Congress should decide “what should the next chapter be, rather than allowing one man to make that decision?”
“If you have to come to us for diplomacy, and you have to come to us for money, you shouldn’t be able to end run us to initiate war on our own,” Kaine said.
But some Republicans warned that congressional defections could weaken Trump’s negotiating hand. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the Iran memorandum of understanding “negotiates away the victories of Operation Epic Fury” and is “completely out of step with the President’s goals.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said the “objective here is always going to be Iranian compliance,” Fox News reported.