Fetterman Only Dem Who Opposed Party’s Iran ‘War Powers’ Push
Once again, Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania defied the rest of his party, this time by opposing an attempt on Wednesday to pass a war powers resolution that would force President Donald Trump to limit actions against Iran.
Supporters of the measure, along with a related one in the House known as war powers resolutions, recognized that they faced significant challenges due to the near-unanimous backing for the war among the Republicans who control Congress. However, they emphasized that the votes were still important as a way to test lawmakers, especially considering Trump’s opposition to seeking congressional approval for the joint Israeli-American operations against Iran.
The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on another measure this Thursday, which also encounters significant hurdles. This is partly because a small group of pro-Israel Democrats has introduced competing legislation, The Intercept reported.
While Fetterman opposed the Senate bill, one Republican – Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky – sided with Democrats in supporting it.
Fetterman said on Wednesday that Trump’s actions to destroy Iran’s nuclear ambitions was “entirely appropriate” and that U.S. and Israeli forces should continue to target whoever is selected to succeed slain Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
“Just keep killing them until they’re gone,” Fetterman told CNN’s Kate Bolduan on CNN News Central.
“I absolutely support that. I think that’s entirely appropriate until hopefully they’ll pick someone that realizes that they need to live and coexist in peace in the region and stop trying to destroy Israel and to stabilize the region,” he added.
Khamenei, who served as the supreme leader for over three decades, was killed in joint U.S. and Israeli strikes early Saturday morning that targeted his compound and Iran’s nuclear program.
Some international media reports indicate that Iran’s Assembly of Experts chose Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as his successor on Tuesday; however, this has not been confirmed by state media, The Hill reported.
An Israeli airstrike reportedly struck the building during a meeting of officials who were voting.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned on Wednesday that any leader appointed by the regime would be “an unequivocal target for elimination.”
“It does not matter what his name is or the place where he hides,” Katz wrote in a post on the social platform X, describing the plot as an “integral part of the objectives” of the ongoing military operation.
“We will continue to act with full force, together with our American partners, to crush the regime’s capabilities and create the conditions for the Iranian people to overthrow it and replace it,” Katz continued.
Israel has clearly stated its goal of pursuing regime change in Iran, while U.S. officials have emphasized that nation-building is not part of their agenda. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have described the mission as focused on eliminating nuclear and missile threats, despite President Trump encouraging the Iranian people to “take over” their government.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Trump mentioned that “most of the people” he envisioned leading Iran next are already deceased. He cautioned that the worst-case scenario would be a successor who is as extreme or even more extreme than Khamenei.
“I guess the worst case would be we do this and then somebody takes over who’s as bad as the previous person, right? That could happen, we don’t want that to happen, it would probably be the worst,” he said.
Pennsylvania’s other senator, Dave McCormack, a Republican, also voted against the Democrat-led war powers resolution.
Iranian officials told U.S. negotiators ahead of military operations that the country had managed to hide its nuclear weapons development from international monitors while enriching enough uranium for at least 11 bombs.
Thune Breaks With Trump, Backs Cornyn After Paxton Endorsement
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Tuesday he will continue supporting Sen. John Cornyn despite President Donald Trump endorsing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in one of the most closely watched Republican Senate primaries of the 2026 cycle.
Speaking to reporters following Trump’s endorsement announcement, Thune praised Cornyn as “a principled conservative” and an “effective senator” for Texas, signaling a rare split between Senate Republican leadership and the president.
“Cornyn is a principled conservative. He is a very effective senator for the state of Texas,” Thune said.
“None of us can control what the president does. That doesn’t change the way I feel. I will continue to be supportive of Senator Cornyn in his re-election,” Thune added.
The comments came just hours after Trump formally endorsed Paxton on Truth Social, delivering a major boost to the Texas attorney general as he seeks to unseat Cornyn in the Republican runoff election.
In his endorsement, Trump criticized Cornyn for insufficient loyalty during politically difficult periods of his presidency.
“Ken Paxton has been a warrior for Texas values and for our America First agenda,” Trump wrote. He added that Cornyn “was not supportive of me when times were tough.”
The endorsement immediately intensified an already bitter and nationally significant Republican primary battle that has exposed growing tensions inside the GOP between establishment Senate Republicans and Trump-aligned populists.
Early voting in the runoff began Monday and continues through Friday, with Election Day set for May 26.
Despite the internal divisions, Thune expressed confidence Republicans would retain control of the Senate in November.
“I’m very confident we’ll hang on — and maybe even expand the majority of the United States Senate,” Thune said.
Republicans currently hold a six-seat Senate majority. Democrats would need a net gain of four seats to retake control of the chamber.
Several races, including contests in Maine, Michigan, and North Carolina, are currently viewed as highly competitive.
The Texas race has become particularly important because Democrats believe a bruising Republican runoff could weaken the eventual GOP nominee heading into the general election against Democratic candidate James Talarico.
Recent polling has suggested an unusually competitive general election environment in Texas. One survey released Monday reportedly showed both Cornyn and Paxton running roughly even with Talarico in hypothetical head-to-head matchups.
That possibility has alarmed some Republicans, particularly moderates concerned that Paxton’s legal controversies and polarizing political image could jeopardize a seat long considered safely Republican.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski openly criticized Trump’s endorsement Tuesday, warning it could backfire politically.
“I was supremely disappointed,” Murkowski said. “How does that help strengthen the president’s hand when we lose a state like Texas?”
Paxton has remained a dominant figure among Texas conservatives despite years of legal and political controversies, including securities fraud charges that were later resolved and an impeachment battle in the Texas legislature from which he was ultimately acquitted by the state Senate.
Trump allies have framed the race as a test of loyalty to the president and the broader America First movement, while Cornyn supporters argue the longtime senator offers stability, fundraising strength, and legislative experience critical for maintaining Republican control of the Senate.
Cornyn, who has served in the Senate since 2002 and previously chaired the National Republican Senatorial Committee, has longstanding ties to GOP leadership and donor networks in Washington. But critics on the right have increasingly portrayed him as part of the party establishment out of step with the Republican base.
Paxton has sought to capitalize on that frustration, presenting himself as a fighter aligned more closely with Trump’s populist agenda on immigration, election integrity, and federal power.
The runoff has also become a broader proxy battle over the future direction of Senate Republicans after Trump’s sweeping victories reshaped the party.
