Republicans in the Senate to Vote against Trump to Limit His War Power

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The upper chamber passed a bill authored by Senator Tim Kaine with all 43 Democrats in support and eight Republicans joining them. Some Republican senators ignored Donald Trump’s warnings regarding a Democratic-crafted measure aimed to limit his ability to go to war with Iran. Senators were both concerned that Trump’s killing of a top Iranian general was too brazen and that Congress since 9/11 has given too many war powers to the executive branch. Senators Lamar Alexander, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Todd Young, Mike Lee, Rand Paul, and Jerry Moran ignored Trump’s call that GOP senators kill the bill before it could reach the House.

It is noteworthy that Trump issued a warning to GOP senators and said, “We are doing very well with Iran and this is not the time to show weakness. Americans overwhelmingly support our attack on terrorist Soleimani.” Trump tweeted ahead of a procedural vote on the measure, referring to Gen Qassem Soleimani. He said, “If my hands were tied, Iran would have a field day. Sends a very bad signal. The Democrats are only doing this as an attempt to embarrass the Republican Party. Don’t let it happen”! The measure was written by Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia (the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2016).

Kaine issued a statement and said, “The resolution underscores that Congress has the sole power to declare war, as laid out in the Constitution. The resolution will force a public debate and vote in Congress as intended by the framers of the Constitution to determine whether United States forces should be engaged in these hostilities”. It is important that Kaine is a member of the chamber’s Foreign Relations Committee. He crafted his measure after Trump ordered the killing of Soleimani. The White House used that designation and the office of the president’s Article II powers to defend the country against all threats as legal justification for taking out the Quds leader, backed by most Republicans on Capitol Hill.