Cassidy confronted – Sen. Bill Cassidy says President Donald Trump raised his voice during a closed-door meeting Wednesday at the Capitol over Senate Republicans voting for a resolution to end the war in Iran, and Cassidy pressed back—saying lawmakers weren’t told what’s happening
WASHINGTON — The closed-door meeting started the way a sparring match often does: with a question that sounded rhetorical until Sen. Bill Cassidy answered it like it wasn’t.
Cassidy said President Donald Trump asked Senate Republicans why anyone would vote for a resolution to end the war in Iran. pointing to the fact that four Republicans had voted for the measure on Tuesday. Cassidy told reporters after the meeting that Trump asked. “Why would anybody vote for the War Powers Act?” Cassidy said he replied. “Is that a rhetorical question. or would you like to really know?” He said Trump told him he “would like to know. ” and Cassidy stood up and pressed the administration for details.
“I stood and said, ‘You have not told the American people what’s going on. It was supposed to last four weeks, it’s lasted four months. Our original objectives have not been achieved, and I want to know what’s going on,’” Cassidy said.
Cassidy said he told Trump he would continue voting for resolutions aimed at ending the war unless the administration provides lawmakers a briefing. He also said the exact wording wasn’t necessarily verbatim, but other senators confirmed there had been a testy exchange. He described how the meeting escalated.
“As I recall,” Cassidy said, “he did not particularly care for my comments, raised his voice. I lost my temper — that’s inappropriate. it’s the Irish in me — but I again matched his tone and his volume. and it went back and forth. but at some point. my guys said. ‘All right. Bill. sit down. ’ and so I sat down and tried to de-escalate.”.
The confrontation focused on the Iran war, but Cassidy’s account landed in a wider moment where Trump has repeatedly needled senators and reshaped the political terrain around Capitol Hill.
Last week, Trump upended Senate plans to confirm the candidate preferred by senators to lead U.S. spy agencies. Earlier on Wednesday. Trump announced he wouldn’t sign a bipartisan housing bill until Congress passes an election bill that has already failed in the Senate repeatedly. Trump has also endorsed primary challengers who have successfully ousted both Cassidy and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas).
For senators, the Iran war is where the pressure has been building longest. Cassidy said Republicans have been upset by the administration’s handling of the conflict. including a refusal to brief them on the peace deal Trump has been negotiating. Cassidy said the terms being pursued are weaker than those of a deal negotiated by former President Barack Obama’s administration. which Republicans have spent more than a decade condemning.
“I am sticking up for the American people, even if I’m speaking to the president,” Cassidy said.
Cassidy’s position has personal consequences as well as political ones. He cast his first vote against the war in Iran after losing his primary last month. He also voted to convict the president for inciting an insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021. Cassidy said Trump mocked him for losing the election.
“You know, whatever, you know, comes to mind as to demean another person,” Cassidy said. “Of course, I lost the election. Way to observe that!”
At least one moment in the meeting reflected the strain beyond policy: at one point, Cassidy stopped referring to Trump as “Mr. President” and called him “brother,” Sen. Jim Justice (R-W.Va.) told reporters.
When several Republicans trickled out of the lunch, the mood stayed tight-lipped and brittle, laced with sarcasm. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) offered the phrase “A spirited conversation.” Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said there was “Lots of unity. ” and added. “Lots of Republican love on Republicans. ” before telling reporters. “Me?. Sarcastic?”.
Justice said it was clear that Cassidy and Trump were both “spoiling for some sort of confrontation.” He described the president as coming in upset about Cassidy and other Republicans voting to publicly rebuke his war in Iran, while Cassidy remained sore about Trump’s moves against him.
“It’s hard not to harbor feelings,” Justice said. “Because Bill Cassidy voted for impeachment, you know? And Bill Cassidy just lost the election. So he’s feeling bad. The president still harbors bad feelings. I mean, all that’s natural.”
As for how the meeting actually felt in the room, Justice said it wasn’t hostile in the usual way—it was emotional and direct, with both sides holding back. He said both men were respectful but “expressed their feelings and didn’t hold back.”
Bill Cassidy Donald Trump War Powers Act Iran war Capitol meeting Senate Republicans peace deal Senate briefing Jim Justice Ted Cruz Rand Paul Jan. 6 impeachment vote U.S. spy agencies confirmation
So Trump yelled again? shocker.
I don’t get why they’d vote to end it if it’s “working.” like who cares about the wording, just stop the war. Four months vs four weeks sounds like a mess already.
Wait this is about a War Powers Act resolution? I thought Congress already ended it?? Also “Irish in me” like he’s proud he got loud? lol. If Trump raised his voice that’s on him but Cassidy raising his voice too sounds like both sides playing games.
Every time they say they “weren’t told” what’s happening, it means the public definitely wasn’t told either, so why are we even trusting any of this? Isn’t this the same thing where they keep saying “limited time” and then it never ends? Four Republicans voting yes and suddenly it’s a fight, like that’s the part that matters more than ending the war.