It hasn't been that long since there was speculation that Sen. Fetterman might be thinking about joining the Republican Party after he agreed to introduce a Republican Senator at the GOP's midterm convention. That hasn't happened obviously but today Fetterman did cross party lines and narrowly helped Republicans block a resolution on the power of President Trump to wage war against Iran.
In a 49-50 vote, the Senate failed to block President Donald Trump from ordering further strikes on Iran less than six weeks before the midterm elections.
Four Republicans — Sens. Rand Paul (Kentucky), Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Thom Tillis (North Carolina) — defied Trump and joined Democrats in voting for the resolution. One Democrat, Sen. John Fetterman (Pennsylvania), voted against it. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (Maryland) did not vote.
This resolution was narrowly passed by the House in July after four Republicans joined Democrats voting for it. Today, with four GOP senators defecting, the Dems might have won the vote if Sen. Alsobrooks had made the vote and Fetterman had stuck with his party. Of course it's also possible that if that had happened, Sen. Tillis might not have joined the other three Republicans who voted for the resolution.
Lots of reactions to the vote on X this afternoon.
SHAMEFUL: A majority of Senate Republicans just blocked our bipartisan War Powers Resolution by a vote of 49-50. This is a slap in the face to the majority of Americans who want this war to end.
— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) September 24, 2026
My full statement: pic.twitter.com/u3TPtmUvRm
Trump promised his war would last “4-5 weeks.” We’re now on MONTH 7
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) September 24, 2026
Senate Democrats are forcing another vote to end Trump’s war in Iran—one of the biggest foreign policy catastrophes in our history
Americans are getting crushed by the costs. We’ve lost at least 19 service… pic.twitter.com/kSMhs6t4q0
Some of the Republicans were not eager to talk about their vote.
09/24/26: Senator Lisa Murkowski did not want to speak about her vote on today’s War Powers Resolution.
— Desirée Townsend (@DesireeReports) September 24, 2026
The Alaska Republican has repeatedly broken with her party in recent months, joining Democrats and a small group of Republicans in supporting efforts to remove U.S. forces… pic.twitter.com/meqQULeXEn
It has to be said that this resolution is symbolic anyway.
As a concurrent resolution, the measure expresses the view of Congress. Had it passed the Senate, it would not go to the president for a signature or veto, making it a largely symbolic rebuke of Trump’s ongoing war.
It stated: “Congress hereby directs the President to remove the use of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran or any part of its government or military, including potential ground forces in a combat role or used for occupation, unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force against Iran.”
Because it wasn't headed to Trump for his approval or veto, it could never have any real impact. It was just a way to express disapproval. Still, there's no doubt that many Republicans see the rising gas and diesel prices as part of the headwind they are facing this fall. Even some of the Republicans that voted to block the resolution are simultaneously saying they want the war to end.
A resolution aimed at ending President Donald Trump's war in Iran failed by a single vote Thursday as Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) voted no despite saying this week the war should end...
"The war needs to come to an end as quickly as possible so that we can lower gas prices," Husted told Politico on Tuesday. Husted ducked reporters after the vote.
As for Fetterman, he doesn't seem to have given an interview about his vote yet. I'm sure he's being asked about it. Maybe it will pop up sometime later today. If so I'll add it below. For now, I'll wrap up with this amusing observation:
Fetterman was the deciding vote here, which means that Hasan Piker's most substantial legacy (as of this very moment) in American politics is keeping the Iran War going. https://t.co/rAQQc2hMZ2
— John Wakefield 🏴 (@JohnWakefieId) September 24, 2026
Hasan is probably wishing he could take that shock collar he uses on his dog and use it on Sen. Fetterman. I'm seeing lots of furious Democrats venting about him on X but I'm not going to include them here because they are mostly smaller accounts.
