President Donald Trump notched a significant political victory Wednesday night after two Republican senators changed their positions, allowing Senate Republicans to defeat a Democratic effort aimed at limiting the president’s authority regarding military action involving Iran.
The dramatic turnaround came just before lawmakers departed Washington for an extended congressional recess. The Senate rejected a war powers resolution introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., that would have placed new restrictions on Trump’s ability to take military action as his administration continues diplomatic efforts toward securing a long-term peace agreement with Iran.
The outcome represented a complete reversal from the previous day, when the same proposal unexpectedly advanced after two Republican senators were absent from the chamber. That earlier vote created an unwelcome political headache for the White House and raised questions about whether Republicans would remain united behind the president’s foreign policy agenda.
