GOP Divisions Deepen as Trump’s Iran War Backfires: Senate Vote Exposes Cracks in Republican Unity

The following is a lightly edited transcript of the May 14 episode of The Daily Blast podcast. Listen to it here.

Greg Sargent: This is The Daily Blast from The New Republic, produced and presented by the DSR Network. I’m your host, Greg Sargent.

Republicans are growing increasingly frustrated with Donald Trump’s war with Iran. Three GOP senators recently joined Democrats to vote in favor of ending the conflict, and reports indicate deeper divisions within the party. This follows a New York Times exposé revealing that Trump’s war efforts have been far less successful than he and Pete Hegseth have claimed.

Meanwhile, Republicans are distancing themselves from Trump’s latest controversial remarks, in which he admitted indifference to how the war’s economic impact—including inflation—affects ordinary Americans.

Here’s the bottom line: All signs suggest this issue will escalate politically for Trump and Republicans.

So we’re checking in with Nicholas Grossman, a professor of international relations and author of a new piece for MS Now, which argues that the economic fallout from the war is only beginning. Thanks for coming on, Nick.

Nicholas Grossman: Hi, thanks for having me. Great to be here.

Sargent: Let’s start with the news from the U.S. Senate. Three Republicans joined Democrats to support a resolution ending the war under the War Powers Act, which mandates a congressional vote after 60 days. The senators were Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Rand Paul. Politico reports that frustration and divisions among Republicans are deepening. Nick, what’s your reaction?

Grossman: I’m not surprised some Republicans are moving away from this. The economic and political liabilities are rising. Unfortunately, Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania cast the deciding vote to block the resolution in a 50-to-49 vote. If he had voted differently, it would have passed.

The War Powers Act is also a sign of America’s democratic backsliding, with power shifting toward the executive branch. This trend began during Trump’s first term. The Act allows the president to use force in emergencies or self-defense without congressional approval. If Congress doesn’t authorize the action within 60 days, it must end automatically.

During Trump’s first term, the Senate passed a resolution to stop U.S. support for Saudi Arabia’s campaign against the Houthis in Yemen—including midair refueling, which constituted direct involvement. Trump vetoed the resolution, and MAGA-aligned lawmakers blocked an override. The War Powers Act is not functioning as intended, but Congress’s current attempt to assert itself could be a positive step.

More details on this developing story will follow.