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June 24, 2026 / 11:07 PM EDT

/ CBS News

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The Senate late Wednesday rejected a measure aimed at restricting President Trump's power to wage war against Iran, in a victory for the president and Senate GOP leadership as they seek to quell congressional discontent with the Trump administration's Iran strategy.The procedural motion failed in a 50 to 47 vote, with two Republicans — Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski — voting in favor of advancing the resolution by Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine, siding with most Democrats. Republican Sen. Ron Paul voted present, and Democratic Sen. John Fetterman voted no.Just one day earlier, four Republicans voted yes on a separate House-passed war powers resolution, allowing it to narrowly pass. Those same four GOP lawmakers voted to advance the Kaine resolution in an earlier procedural vote last month — the first time an Iran war powers resolution had moved forward in the Senate after seven failed attempts.Kaine's resolution would direct Mr. Trump to "remove the United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Iran," unless authorized by Congress.The measure's practical impact is unclear since the president would likely veto the measure even if it passes, and the Trump administration has argued the U.S. is no longer engaged in hostilities with Iran since the two sides entered into a ceasefire. The administration has also said it believes the 1973 War Powers Resolution — the law that set up a process for Congress to push back on presidential uses of military force — is itself unconstitutional.Still, Mr. Trump has publicly and privately vented about the war powers votes, arguing the rebukes from Congress have undermined his efforts to negotiate with Iran.Those frustrations boiled over earlier Wednesday, when Mr. Trump expressed his discontent during a testy lunch meeting with Senate Republicans, CBS News previously reported. At one point, the president sternly told Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana — who had voted in favor of Tuesday's war powers resolution — to sit down. Cassidy told reporters after the meeting that "[Mr. Trump] raised his voice" and "I lost my temper."