A major Senate rebuke of President Donald Trump on Tuesday led a CNN anchor to declare that the 80-year-old MAGA leader just received a clear message that his grip on the GOP has weakened.
In a striking bipartisan rebuke, the Senate on Tuesday voted to order Trump to halt the war in Iran or seek congressional approval to keep fighting.
Many Raju, CNN's chief congressional correspondent, told CNN anchor Abby Phillip it amounted to a "major rebuke" of Trump, though a largely symbolic one.
"One showing concern within the Democratic ranks and among some Republicans over the way the president has been waging this war with Iran," said Raju.
The 50-48 vote saw four Republicans — Rand Paul of Kentucky, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana — cross the aisle to join Democrats. Pennsylvania's John Fetterman was the lone Democrat to vote against it. The measure prevailed partly because two Republicans were absent, including Mitch McConnell, who was recently hospitalized.
It marked the first time since the War Powers Resolution of 1973 that both chambers have approved a resolution directing a president to end a military conflict. The House passed it earlier this month.
The concurrent resolution doesn't require Trump's signature and doesn't carry the force of law, so it won't compel an immediate change. Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID) said Trump was not "going to pay any attention to it."
Even so, Phillip and Raju agreed it sent Trump a message.
"In an election year, it's even more significant, given that this was a war President Trump chose at this pivotal political moment for him," said Phillip.
She concluded, "A Republican House and a Republican Senate just voted to basically say, 'Time to stop and come to us for approval.' That is a pretty strong sign that the president's control, especially over the situation in Iran, is slipping."