Latest news with #JohnFetterman
The Guardian
6 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
US Senate votes down resolution to restrict Trump from escalating Iran war
Senate Democrats failed on Friday to get a war-powers resolution passed to limit Donald Trump's ability to single-handedly escalate the war with Iran. The resolution, 'to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran', was voted down 53-47. The vote on the resolution, introduced by the Democratic senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, split along mainly partisan lines. One Republican, Rand Paul of Kentucky, voted for it; one Democrat, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, voted against it. 'Congress declares war,' Kaine said in a speech on the Senate floor. He stressed that the framers of the US constitution in 1787 were so wary of giving the power to start wars to one person that they did not even entrust it to George Washington, the first commander-in-chief. 'They decided that war was too big a decision for one person,' Kaine said. 'And so they wrote a constitution that said the United States should not be at war without a vote of Congress.' The measure would have compelled Trump to seek authorization from Congress before taking any further military action. Trump ordered airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities on 22 June. This directly followed Israel launching attacks on Iran, and Iran retaliating. Trump said that the US bombardment 'totally obliterated' key nuclear enrichment facilities and deemed the mission a success, although some initial reports said the damage was minimal. Iran condemned the attacks. Trump claimed on Friday that Iran had halted its nuclear ambitions after the bombings. But, he said, he would 'absolutely' continue to attack the country's nuclear sites if he believed it was once again enriching uranium. 'Time will tell,' Trump said at the White House. 'But I don't believe that they're going to go back into nuclear anytime soon.'
Wall Street Journal
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
Senate Effort to Restrain Trump's War Powers in Iran Fails
WASHINGTON—An effort by Senate Democrats to prevent President Trump from taking further military action in Iran without congressional approval was blocked by Republicans, who argued the commander in chief was within his rights to launch strikes on nuclear sites a week ago. The measure failed with 47 in favor and 53 opposed on Friday, largely along party lines, shy of the required simple majority in the GOP-controlled chamber. Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania sided with Republicans in voting against the measure, while GOP Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky sided with the Democrats in backing it.
Fox News
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Senate shuts down Kaine's attempt to check Trump's war powers
A Senate Democrat's push to put a check on President Donald Trump's powers and reaffirm the Senate's war authority was shut down by lawmakers in the upper chamber Thursday. Sen. Tim Kaine's war powers resolution, which would have required Congress to debate and vote on whether the president could declare war, or strike Iran, was struck down in the Senate on a largely party-line vote, save for Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., a staunch advocate of Israel who supported Trump's strike on the Islamic Republic, and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who has been vocal in his thoughts about congressional war powers in recent days. Earlier in the week, the Virginia Democrat vowed to move ahead with the resolution despite a fragile ceasefire brokered between Israel and Iran following weekend strikes on the Islamic Republic's key nuclear facilities that were not given the green-light by Congress. Kaine argued that the ceasefire gave his resolution more credence and breathing room to properly debate the role that Congress plays when it comes to authorizing both war and attacks abroad. He said ahead of the vote on the Senate floor that he came to Washington to ensure that the country does not again get into another "unnecessary" war, and invoked the rush to approve war powers for then-President George W. Bush over two decades ago to engage with Iraq. "I think the events of this week have demonstrated that war is too big to consign to the decisions of any one person," Kaine said. Indeed, his resolution became a focal point for a debate that has raged on Capitol Hill since Israel began its bombing campaign against Iran: whether the strikes like those carried out during Operation Midnight Hammer constituted an act of war that required congressional approval, or if Trump's decision was under his constitutional authority as commander-in-chief. Senate Republicans have widely argued that Trump was well within his purview, while most Senate Democrats raised constitutional concerns about the president's ability to carry out a strike without lawmakers weighing in. Experts have argued, too, that Trump was within his executive authority to strike Iran. The Constitution divides war powers between Congress and the White House, giving lawmakers the sole power to declare war, while the president acts as the commander in chief directing the military. And nearly two centuries later, at the height of the Vietnam War, the War Powers Resolution of 1973 was born, which sought to further define those roles. But the most impact lawmakers could have is through the power of the purse, and Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky, who plays a large role in controlling the purse strings as the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, had a sharp message against Kaine's resolution. McConnell used instances where Democratic presidents over the last three decades have used their authority for limited engagements in Kosovo, Libya, Syria and Yemen, and questioned why "isolationists" would consider the strike on Iran to kneecap its nuclear program a mistake. "I have not heard the frequent flyers on War Powers resolutions reckon seriously with these questions," he said. "Until they do, efforts like this will remain divorced from both strategic and constitutional reality."
Toronto Star
a day ago
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Democrats are trying to figure out what to do about John Fetterman. One of them is stepping up
ENOLA, Pa. (AP) — Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania isn't even up for reelection until 2028, but already a one-time primary foe, former U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb, is crisscrossing Pennsylvania and social media, looking and sounding like he's preparing to challenge Fetterman again. At town hall after town hall across Pennsylvania, Democrats and allied progressive groups aren't hearing from Fetterman in person — or Republicans who control Washington, for that matter.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fetterman more popular with Republicans than Democrats, poll shows
(WHTM) — For some Republicans, he's not Republican enough. For many Democrats, he's definitely not Democrat enough. A new poll shows U.S. Senator John Fetterman gets higher approval numbers among Republicans than he does among Democrats. It's unheard of for a statewide candidate, said pollster Jim Lee, who crunched the numbers. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now 'He's actually said he doesn't want to be called a progressive anymore,' Lee said. 'But in a Democratic primary in 2028, with numbers like this among his base supporters, you have to be concerned that Fetterman isn't electable, if these numbers hold with Democratic voters.' The poll showed 45% of Republicans approve of Fetterman while just 40% of Democrats approve of him. Overall, he had a 41% approval rating in the state, compared to 37% who disapprove of him. The first-term senator hasn't just broke from his party in recent days, he's criticized it on issues such as the border and Israel. Fetterman's also said he supports a number of President Donald Trump's policies. Fetterman on Democrats criticizing Iran strikes: 'Our party has been often wrong' To many progressives, he isn't the guy they elected. Of course, he still has three years to turn his numbers around. Fetterman's not up for reelection until 2028. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
