Senate Approves War Powers Resolution

Trump’s stranglehold over the GOP is beginning to wane

By: Austin Abbring

June 23, 2026

Following the House’s passage of the war powers resolution earlier this month, it has now narrowly passed the Senate (50-48). Four Republicans, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, and Susan Collins of Maine, joined Democrats in the effort. Democratic Senator John Fetterman continues to do John Fetterman things by voting against this resolution. The pipeline from progressive to MAGA Democrat is fascinating, but Fetterman continues to find a way.

This resolution largely serves as a symbolic measure, as it does not require President Trump’s signature and does not materially change anything at this time, especially since the 60-day MoU is already underway. Also, Trump did not seek Congress’s approval to engage in this war, and is beyond the 60-day period to withdraw troops from any objectives or combat without Congressional approval for said military action. Beyond the symbolism of both chambers and both parties displaying their displeasure and concern for this farce of a war, this war powers resolution would force the president to withdraw the U.S. armed forces from conflict with Iran unless Congress officially declares war or green lights any further military action. This also makes the Pentagon’s request for an additional $80 billion in funding for restockpiling used munitions that much more difficult.

The Senate finally defied Trump on this after 9 previous votes on a war powers resolution. Trump is very slowly losing his boot’s grip on the necks of the GOP. Do not get me wrong, his MAGA voting base, that 25-30% of people, is not going anywhere. They will see this ride go over the cliff and go with it. After 10 years of Trump, MAGA loyalists are not going to have a sudden epiphany and snap out of their coma. Trump will also largely have practically unilateral control over House and Senate Republicans. However, the reckless spending by this administration, this Iran debacle, his overall foreign policy, and the absurd nominations of individuals for agency and judiciary positions are really beginning to strain the relationship amongst some Republicans.

As I have said before, there are midterms that these Republicans are hoping not to get slaughtered in. They still have races to run in. They will have to answer for what this administration has done. Independent voters are unlikely to save them, as I can almost guarantee the Democrats will take both chambers. Donald Trump is an 80-year-old man who does not care anymore. He has clear cognitive and health issues. I do not think he has the energy to keep up this facade of his 2028 ambitions. He already got what he wanted from this presidency. He got his personal enrichment, family enrichment, his cronies enriched, his deregulation, and his ugly tax bill through. He has nothing left to do but fight to avoid prison should the remainder of the Epstein files finally come to light.

What the war resolution really says to me is that we desperately need to either rewrite or overhaul the War Powers Act. The law is too arbitrary and is just never fully enforced, which gives the Executive Branch too much power. Just about every president has violated the law since its inception in 1973, including Reagan, Clinton, Obama, Biden, and both Trump administrations. George H.W. Bush and George Bush were just lucky Republicans, and Congress was so war-hawkish during their times in office while seeking to engage the U.S. military in conflicts, and basically always had congressional backing. However, all presidents since the Act’s passage have sidestepped or violated it in some manner. There must be a revised Act to prevent such immense power by the commander-in-chief and to prevent the United States from entering into further disastrous and costly military campaigns. Our imperialist mindset should be left in the dustbin of history where imperialism belongs.