Senators comment on Iran war powers resolution as House prepares vote

Описание: (5 Mar 2026)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

++BEGINS AND ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++
++WHITE FLASHES SEPARATE SOME SOUNDBITES++

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Washington - 5 March 2026
1. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Rick Scott, (R) Florida:
“The president's doing what he should be doing. But, in fact, if he didn't do this, I think it would be a dereliction of duty. When you know that Iran's trying to create a nuclear weapon to destroy America, and they've been killing Americans for 40 years, right, this president is actually saving lives. So he's doing the right thing.”
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina:
“We've been in an undeclared state of war with Iran since 1979. Seldom do we declare war, and we don't need to declare war here. We need to end this terrorist regime."
++WHITE FLASH++
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina:
"This debate is ridiculous. To suggest constitutionally, you cannot use the military as commander in chief unless Congress authorizes it, it is flipping the Constitution on its head.”
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Richard Blumenthal, (D) Connecticut:
“We're at war. But that's no excuse for violating the Constitution."
++WHITE FLASH++
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Richard Blumenthal, (D) Connecticut:
"There's no reason we can't fight a war, in this case, a war that seems to be one of choice, without clear choices of strategy or objectives but at the same time make our streets safe from illegality, assaults, brutality on the part of the government violating Fourth Amendment rights.”
++ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++
STORYLINE:
Senate Republicans voted down an effort Wednesday to halt President Donald Trump’s war against Iran, demonstrating early support for a conflict that has rapidly spread across the Middle East with no clear U.S. exit strategy.

The legislation, known as a war powers resolution, failed on a 47-53 vote tally.

Some senators are reacting to the outcome as the House prepares to vote Thursday.

“Whether you believe the War Powers Act is constitutional or not, the president has followed through,” said Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.). “When you know that Iran's trying to create a nuclear weapon to destroy Americans, and they've been killing Americans for 40 years, this president is actually saving lives.”

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) offered a different view:

“We're at war. But that's no excuse for violating the Constitution,” said Blumenthal.

"There's no reason we can't fight a war, in this case, a war that seems to be one of choice without clear choices of strategy or objectives, but at the same time make our streets safe from illegality, assaults, brutality on the part of the government violating Fourth Amendment rights," added Blumenthal.


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