Donald Trump and Republican Senator Bill Cassidy engaged in a heated exchange at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, reflecting growing tensions within the Republican Party over the administration's handling of the conflict with Iran.
Get today's headlines by email 
Speaking to reporters after Trump's lunch meeting with Senate Republicans, Cassidy said the president confronted him over his support for a war powers resolution designed to limit the administration's ability to resume military action against Iran without congressional approval.
According to Cassidy, Trump asked: “Why would anybody vote for the War Powers Act?” The Louisiana senator said he responded by asking whether the question was rhetorical or whether the president genuinely wanted an answer.
Cassidy, one of four Republican senators who backed the measure earlier this week, said Trump pressed him for a response. The senator said he then challenged the administration's handling of the conflict, arguing that a military campaign Trump had suggested would last four weeks had instead stretched to four months without achieving U.S. objectives.
The senator said he told Trump he would continue supporting war powers resolutions until lawmakers received a briefing addressing his concerns about the conflict. Cassidy described the exchange as increasingly tense, saying the president raised his voice and that he responded in kind.
“He did not particularly care for my comments,” Cassidy said, adding that the discussion went “back and forth” before he decided to sit down and de-escalate the confrontation.
Cassidy, who recently lost re-election to a challenger endorsed by Trump, defended his actions, saying he had no regrets about pressing for more information from the administration.
“I make no apologies for standing up to the president,” he said. Cassidy added that he believed lawmakers and the public deserved greater transparency and said he would not be intimidated into dropping the issue.
Questions on Britain
Later, during an Oval Office appearance alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump criticized several NATO allies, including the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain, for refusing to allow the United States to use military bases on their territory for offensive operations against Iran.
During a question-and-answer session with reporters, Trump was asked about Andy Burnham, who is widely viewed as a leading contender to become Britain's next prime minister.
Trump said he knew little about Burnham, describing him as someone who had been “the mayor of a town,” an apparent reference to Burnham's role as mayor of Greater Manchester.
The president added that he had heard Burnham was “extremely liberal” and suggested such views could affect energy policy. Trump again promoted expanded oil and gas development in the North Sea, saying he had previously advised Prime Minister Keir Starmer to pursue additional drilling.
Energy Remarks
Trump returned to the issue later in the discussion, linking Starmer's support for wind energy and opposition to new North Sea drilling licences to his political difficulties.
The president claimed that Starmer's refusal to shift toward expanded oil exploration had contributed to his loss of office, although that assertion was inaccurate.
The remarks underscored Trump's continued interest in British politics and energy policy while highlighting divisions within his own party over military action and congressional oversight of the conflict with Iran.
Join the discussion? 
Already a member? 
Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 25 June 2026
Recommended Comments
Create an account or sign in to comment