<img src="https://www.rawstory.com/media-library/president-donald-trump-speaks-to-the-press-ahead-of-departing-the-white-house-for-joint-base-andrews-en-route-to-beijing-china.jpg?id=66730007&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0%2C261%2C0%2C262"/><br/><br/><p>New signs of strain were bubbling up among Republicans on Wednesday after three GOP lawmakers sided with Democrats on a vote to end the Iran war, <a href="https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/05/13/congress/ukraine-aid-discharge-petition-00918716" target="_blank">Politico</a> reported.</p><p>The war has grown more unpopular among Americans as gas prices soar and Republicans consider the economic fallout ahead of the midterm elections, according to Politico. The 49-50 vote on Wednesday was the closest the Senate has come to having a war powers vote as the Trump administration has missed the legal deadline to tamp down its military operation, "which several Republicans have signaled would be a turning point for their support."</p><p>Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) supported the resolution, joining Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Susan Collins (R-ME). Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) broke with Democrats again to oppose the vote.</p><p>"Paul has supported all seven attempts to rein in Trump, while Collins broke ranks for the first time last month, just ahead of the 60-day benchmark," Politico reported.</p><p>Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) told Politico before the vote that he expected Republicans to oppose the war sooner, but that was not the case. </p><p>Many Republicans have "still opted not to cross Trump, a sign of his continued sway over the bulk of the party." But Kaine and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), the resolution's co-sponsor, think that GOP lawmakers could be pressured by the economy to change their minds.</p><p>"We know what our colleagues are hearing. We know what they’re hearing from their constituents, and we’re starting to hear doubt creep into their words," Kaine told Politico. "There will be a day — and it might be soon, I believe — where the Senate will say to the president, ‘stop this war.’"</p> via Raw Story https://ift.tt/oitlRYe
