Senate Republicans including Susan Collins of Maine blocked a resolution aiming to stop President Donald Trump’s air war and require that any hostilities against Iran be authorized by Congress.
All Republicans except Rand Paul of Kentucky voted against the resolution backed mostly by Democrats in the 53-47 vote. Sponsors described it as a bid to take back Congress’ responsibility to declare war, while opponents insisted that Trump’s action was legal and within his right as commander in chief to protect the U.S. by ordering limited strikes.
The measure had not been expected to succeed. Collins, whose seat is one of Democrats’ top targets in the 2026 election, was being watched after bucking her party in 2020 to vote to limit Trump’s authority to wage war with Iran. But she also voted last year to preserve his ability to conduct targeted strikes and supported those on nuclear facilities at that time.
Her Wednesday explanation was similar, noting Iran’s pursuit of nuclear capabilities and its long history as a sponsor of terrorism and attacks on Americans. Collins said the administration has consulted with Congress as required and conducted classified briefings for members.
“Passing this resolution now would send the wrong message to Iran and to our troops,” she said in a statement.
The five-term Republican said before the strikes began on Friday that Trump should strike Iran only as a “last resort” to nuclear negotiations. The next day, the U.S. and Israel began a furious attack on officials and facilities that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Fighting has continued since then with changing justifications and goals cited by the Trump administration.
For example, senators grilled officials during an Armed Services Committee hearing on Tuesday over Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s earlier claim that the president, believing that Israel was ready to act, decided it was better for the U.S. to strike in order to prevent Iran’s potential retaliation on American military bases.
Independent Angus King of Maine said it’s “very disturbing” that Trump took the U.S. to war because Israel wanted to bomb Iran.
Collins’ main Democratic opponents, Gov. Janet Mills and Graham Platner, have criticized Trump’s moves in Iran. At a Sunday rally in Brewer, Platner called the strikes “un-American.” The next day in Orono, the governor said they were unconstitutional and illegal.
BDN writer Michael Shepherd and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
