Trump Clashes With Senate Republicans Over Iran War Powers Vote

President Trump on Wednesday dismissed a Senate vote directing him to end U.S. military operations against Iran or obtain congressional authorization, calling the measure meaningless during negotiations. The resolution passed the previous day with support from four Republican senators and marked the first Senate-approved war powers measure related to the conflict.

Trump arrived at a closed-door lunch with Senate Republicans visibly angry and focused the discussion on the four senators who joined Democrats in backing the measure. Senator Bill Cassidy recounted standing to defend his vote and telling the president that the operation had lasted four months instead of the originally planned four weeks.

Cassidy said he matched the president's tone before attempting to lower tensions and later told reporters he would continue voting for war powers until receiving a briefing.

Trump told reporters afterward that Democrats wanted to lose the war and referred to them as "Dum-ocrats." He also said the timing of the Senate action could give Iran additional leverage in ongoing talks. Senator Lindsey Graham posted on social media that the president's concern about Iran being emboldened was not unwarranted and called for a re-vote.

Hours after the Senate lunch, Trump met NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office. Rutte stated that European allies had supported the U.S. effort in Iran while presenting a chart labeled "Trump Trillion." Trump expressed disappointment with NATO participation levels during the exchange.

“I stood and said, 'You have not told the American people what's going on.' This was supposed to last four weeks, it has lasted four months.”