Actually, the full quote is even nuttier. In unreleased documentary footage shot by filmmaker Alex Holder and obtained by the Wall Street Journal, Graham is heard telling the film crew, after talking to Trump the morning the Iran strikes began (late February 2026):
“Boy, he’s jacked... He said, ‘Best thing I’ve ever done.’ ... He loves blowing stuff up.”
And that, in a nutshell, is precisely why the Constitution explicitly gives the power to declare war to Congress rather than to the president.
For purely political reasons, this Congress has given away that power to Donald Trump, the self-acclaimed President of peace, who, without bothering to ask Congress, has ordered military strikes on seven countries in just the last 18 months: Iraq, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen, Nigeria, Somalia, and, of course, Iran.
Now, all the destruction and all the deaths could have been avoided if only this Congress had done its job. It’s pretty clear that we’ve elected some of the wrong people to Congress. But on November 3rd, we’ll have the chance to fix that. What follows ought to be all the information you’ll need in plenty of time for the midterm elections. And probably a good deal more.
(🎥 In case you missed it… Here is the Instagram companion video on this)
Bottom line, instead of doing their Constitutional duty, this Congress has chosen to pass a totally toothless War Powers resolution that the President has totally ignored.
What it did: Directed Trump to remove U.S. forces from hostilities with Iran within 60 days unless Congress explicitly authorized continued action.
House: Passed 215-208 on June 3, 2026. 211 Democrats + 4 Republicans (Massie, Fitzpatrick, Barrett, Davidson) voted yes.
Senate: Passed 50-48 on June 23, 2026. 4 Republicans (Cassidy, Collins, Murkowski, Paul) crossed over; 1 Democrat (Fetterman) voted no.
The catch: It’s a concurrent resolution: no presidential signature required, no force of law, and Trump’s White House called it “of no significance.”
The reversal: Two days later, the Senate blocked a follow-on resolution to reinforce it, 47-50-1, after Trump pressured Cassidy into flipping his vote, and Paul switched to “present.”
Bottom line: Congress went on record against the war, but the measure was purely symbolic, and Trump has continued operations unimpeded.
Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Result: Passed, 215-208 (0 Present, 7 Not Voting). House Clerk official record.
Yea: 215
Adams (D-NC), Aguilar (D-CA), Amo (D-RI), Ansari (D-AZ), Auchincloss (D-MA), Balint (D-VT), Barragán (D-CA), Barrett (R-MI), Beatty (D-OH), Bell (D-MO), Bera (D-CA), Beyer (D-VA), Bishop (D-GA), Bonamici (D-OR), Boyle (D-PA), Brown (D-OH), Brownley (D-CA), Budzinski (D-IL), Bynum (D-OR), Carbajal (D-CA), Carson (D-IN), Carter (D-LA), Casar (D-TX), Case (D-HI), Casten (D-IL), Castor (D-FL), Castro (D-TX), Chu (D-CA), Cisneros (D-CA), Clark (D-MA), Clarke (D-NY), Cleaver (D-MO), Clyburn (D-SC), Cohen (D-TN), Conaway (D-NJ), Correa (D-CA), Costa (D-CA), Courtney (D-CT), Craig (D-MN), Crockett (D-TX), Crow (D-CO), Cuellar (D-TX), Davids (D-KS), Davidson (R-OH), Davis (D-IL), Davis (D-NC), DeGette (D-CO), DeLauro (D-CT), DeSaulnier (D-CA), Dean (D-PA), DelBene (D-WA), Deluzio (D-PA), Dexter (D-OR), Dingell (D-MI), Doggett (D-TX), Elfreth (D-MD), Escobar (D-TX), Espaillat (D-NY), Evans (D-PA), Fields (D-LA), Figures (D-AL), Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Fletcher (D-TX), Foster (D-IL), Foushee (D-NC), Frankel, Lois (D-FL), Friedman (D-CA), Frost (D-FL), Garamendi (D-CA), Garcia (D-CA), Garcia (D-TX), García (D-IL), Gillen (D-NY), Golden (D-ME), Goldman (D-NY), Gomez (D-CA), Gonzalez, V. (D-TX), Goodlander (D-NH), Gottheimer (D-NJ), Gray (D-CA), Green, Al (D-TX), Grijalva (D-AZ), Harder (D-CA), Hayes (D-CT), Himes (D-CT), Horsford (D-NV), Houlahan (D-PA), Hoyer (D-MD), Hoyle (D-OR), Huffman (D-CA), Ivey (D-MD), Jackson (D-IL), Jacobs (D-CA), Jeffries (D-NY), Johnson (D-GA), Johnson (D-TX), Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), Kaptur (D-OH), Keating (D-MA), Kelly (D-IL), Kennedy (D-NY), Khanna (D-CA), Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Landsman (D-OH), Larsen (D-WA), Larson (D-CT), Latimer (D-NY), Lee (D-NV), Lee (D-PA), Leger Fernandez (D-NM), Levin (D-CA), Liccardo (D-CA), Lieu (D-CA), Lofgren (D-CA), Lynch (D-MA), Magaziner (D-RI), Mannion (D-NY), Massie (R-KY), Matsui (D-CA), McBath (D-GA), McBride (D-DE), McClain Delaney (D-MD), McClellan (D-VA), McCollum (D-MN), McDonald Rivet (D-MI), McGarvey (D-KY), McGovern (D-MA), McIver (D-NJ), Meeks (D-NY), Mejia (D-NJ), Menefee (D-TX), Menendez (D-NJ), Meng (D-NY), Mfume (D-MD), Min (D-CA), Moore (D-WI), Morelle (D-NY), Morrison (D-MN), Moskowitz (D-FL), Moulton (D-MA), Mrvan (D-IN), Mullin (D-CA), Nadler (D-NY), Neal (D-MA), Neguse (D-CO), Norcross (D-NJ), Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Olszewski (D-MD), Omar (D-MN), Pallone (D-NJ), Panetta (D-CA), Pappas (D-NH), Pelosi (D-CA), Perez (D-WA), Peters (D-CA), Pettersen (D-CO), Pingree (D-ME), Pocan (D-WI), Pou (D-NJ), Pressley (D-MA), Quigley (D-IL), Ramirez (D-IL), Randall (D-WA), Raskin (D-MD), Riley (D-NY), Rivas (D-CA), Ross (D-NC), Ruiz (D-CA), Ryan (D-NY), Salinas (D-OR), Scanlon (D-PA), Schakowsky (D-IL), Schneider (D-IL), Scholten (D-MI), Schrier (D-WA), Scott (D-VA), Sewell (D-AL), Sherman (D-CA), Simon (D-CA), Smith (D-WA), Sorensen (D-IL), Soto (D-FL), Stansbury (D-NM), Stanton (D-AZ), Stevens (D-MI), Strickland (D-WA), Subramanyam (D-VA), Suozzi (D-NY), Sykes (D-OH), Sánchez (D-CA), Takano (D-CA), Thanedar (D-MI), Thompson (D-CA), Thompson (D-MS), Titus (D-NV), Tlaib (D-MI), Tokuda (D-HI), Tonko (D-NY), Torres (D-CA), Torres (D-NY), Trahan (D-MA), Tran (D-CA), Underwood (D-IL), Vargas (D-CA), Vasquez (D-NM), Veasey (D-TX), Velázquez (D-NY), Vindman (D-VA), Walkinshaw (D-VA), Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Waters (D-CA), Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Whitesides (D-CA), Williams (D-GA), Wilson (D-FL)
Nay: 208
Aderholt (R-AL), Alford (R-MO), Allen (R-GA), Amodei (R-NV), Arrington (R-TX), Babin (R-TX), Bacon (R-NE), Baird (R-IN), Balderson (R-OH), Barr (R-KY), Baumgartner (R-WA), Bean (R-FL), Begich (R-AK), Bentz (R-OR), Bergman (R-MI), Bice (R-OK), Biggs (R-AZ), Biggs (R-SC), Bilirakis (R-FL), Boebert (R-CO), Bost (R-IL), Brecheen (R-OK), Bresnahan (R-PA), Buchanan (R-FL), Burchett (R-TN), Burlison (R-MO), Calvert (R-CA), Cammack (R-FL), Carey (R-OH), Carter (R-GA), Carter (R-TX), Ciscomani (R-AZ), Cline (R-VA), Cloud (R-TX), Clyde (R-GA), Cole (R-OK), Collins (R-GA), Comer (R-KY), Crane (R-AZ), Crank (R-CO), Crawford (R-AR), Crenshaw (R-TX), De La Cruz (R-TX), DesJarlais (R-TN), Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Donalds (R-FL), Downing (R-MT), Dunn (R-FL), Edwards (R-NC), Ellzey (R-TX), Emmer (R-MN), Estes (R-KS), Evans (R-CO), Ezell (R-MS), Fallon (R-TX), Fedorchak (R-ND), Feenstra (R-IA), Fine (R-FL), Finstad (R-MN), Fischbach (R-MN), Fitzgerald (R-WI), Fleischmann (R-TN), Flood (R-NE), Fong (R-CA), Foxx (R-NC), Franklin, Scott (R-FL), Fry (R-SC), Fulcher (R-ID), Fuller (R-GA), Garbarino (R-NY), Gill (R-TX), Gimenez (R-FL), Goldman (R-TX), Gooden (R-TX), Gosar (R-AZ), Graves (R-MO), Griffith (R-VA), Grothman (R-WI), Guest (R-MS), Guthrie (R-KY), Hageman (R-WY), Hamadeh (R-AZ), Haridopolos (R-FL), Harrigan (R-NC), Harris (R-MD), Harris (R-NC), Harshbarger (R-TN), Hern (R-OK), Higgins (R-LA), Hill (R-AR), Hinson (R-IA), Houchin (R-IN), Hudson (R-NC), Huizenga (R-MI), Hunt (R-TX), Hurd (R-CO), Issa (R-CA), Jack (R-GA), Jackson (R-TX), James (R-MI), Johnson (R-LA), Jordan (R-OH), Joyce (R-OH), Joyce (R-PA), Kelly (R-MS), Kelly (R-PA), Kennedy (R-UT), Kiggans (R-VA), Kiley (I-CA), Kim (R-CA), Knott (R-NC), Kustoff (R-TN), LaHood (R-IL), LaLota (R-NY), Langworthy (R-NY), Latta (R-OH), Lawler (R-NY), Lee (R-FL), Letlow (R-LA), Loudermilk (R-GA), Lucas (R-OK), Luna (R-FL), Mackenzie (R-PA), Malliotakis (R-NY), Maloy (R-UT), Mann (R-KS), Mast (R-FL), McCaul (R-TX), McClain (R-MI), McClintock (R-CA), McCormick (R-GA), McDowell (R-NC), McGuire (R-VA), Messmer (R-IN), Meuser (R-PA), Miller (R-IL), Miller (R-OH), Miller (R-WV), Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Mills (R-FL), Moolenaar (R-MI), Moore (R-AL), Moore (R-NC), Moore (R-UT), Moore (R-WV), Moran (R-TX), Murphy (R-NC), Nehls (R-TX), Newhouse (R-WA), Nunn (R-IA), Obernolte (R-CA), Onder (R-MO), Owens (R-UT), Palmer (R-AL), Patronis (R-FL), Perry (R-PA), Pfluger (R-TX), Reschenthaler (R-PA), Rogers (R-AL), Rogers (R-KY), Rose (R-TN), Rouzer (R-NC), Roy (R-TX), Rulli (R-OH), Rutherford (R-FL), Salazar (R-FL), Scalise (R-LA), Schmidt (R-KS), Schweikert (R-AZ), Scott, Austin (R-GA), Self (R-TX), Sessions (R-TX), Shreve (R-IN), Simpson (R-ID), Smith (R-MO), Smith (R-NE), Smith (R-NJ), Smucker (R-PA), Spartz (R-IN), Stauber (R-MN), Stefanik (R-NY), Steil (R-WI), Steube (R-FL), Strong (R-AL), Stutzman (R-IN), Taylor (R-OH), Tenney (R-NY), Thompson (R-PA), Tiffany (R-WI), Timmons (R-SC), Turner (R-OH), Valadao (R-CA), Van Drew (R-NJ), Van Duyne (R-TX), Van Epps (R-TN), Van Orden (R-WI), Wagner (R-MO), Walberg (R-MI), Weber (R-TX), Webster (R-FL), Westerman (R-AR), Wied (R-WI), Williams (R-TX), Wilson (R-SC), Wittman (R-VA), Womack (R-AR), Yakym (R-IN), Zinke (R-MT)
Not Voting: 7
Jayapal (D-WA), Johnson (R-SD), Kean (R-NJ), Luttrell (R-TX), Mace (R-SC), Norman (R-SC), Ogles (R-TN)
Result: Agreed to, 50-48 (2 Not Voting). Senate official record.
Yea: 50
Alsobrooks (D-MD), Baldwin (D-WI), Bennet (D-CO), Blumenthal (D-CT), Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Booker (D-NJ), Cantwell (D-WA), Cassidy (R-LA), Collins (R-ME), Coons (D-DE), Cortez Masto (D-NV), Duckworth (D-IL), Durbin (D-IL), Gallego (D-AZ), Gillibrand (D-NY), Hassan (D-NH), Heinrich (D-NM), Hickenlooper (D-CO), Hirono (D-HI), Kaine (D-VA), Kelly (D-AZ), Kim (D-NJ), King (I-ME), Klobuchar (D-MN), Lujan (D-NM), Markey (D-MA), Merkley (D-OR), Murkowski (R-AK), Murphy (D-CT), Murray (D-WA), Ossoff (D-GA), Padilla (D-CA), Paul (R-KY), Peters (D-MI), Reed (D-RI), Rosen (D-NV), Sanders (I-VT), Schatz (D-HI), Schiff (D-CA), Schumer (D-NY), Shaheen (D-NH), Slotkin (D-MI), Smith (D-MN), Van Hollen (D-MD), Warner (D-VA), Warnock (D-GA), Warren (D-MA), Welch (D-VT), Whitehouse (D-RI), Wyden (D-OR)
Nay: 48
Armstrong (R-OK), Banks (R-IN), Barrasso (R-WY), Blackburn (R-TN), Boozman (R-AR), Britt (R-AL), Budd (R-NC), Capito (R-WV), Cornyn (R-TX), Cotton (R-AR), Cramer (R-ND), Crapo (R-ID), Cruz (R-TX), Curtis (R-UT), Daines (R-MT), Ernst (R-IA), Fetterman (D-PA), Fischer (R-NE), Graham (R-SC), Grassley (R-IA), Hagerty (R-TN), Hawley (R-MO), Hoeven (R-ND), Husted (R-OH), Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Johnson (R-WI), Justice (R-WV), Kennedy (R-LA), Lankford (R-OK), Lee (R-UT), Lummis (R-WY), Marshall (R-KS), Moody (R-FL), Moran (R-KS), Moreno (R-OH), Ricketts (R-NE), Risch (R-ID), Rounds (R-SD), Schmitt (R-MO), Scott (R-FL), Scott (R-SC), Sheehy (R-MT), Sullivan (R-AK), Thune (R-SD), Tillis (R-NC), Tuberville (R-AL), Wicker (R-MS), Young (R-IN)
Not Voting: 2
McConnell (R-KY), McCormick (R-PA)
Not up in 2026 (29 of the 48: Class I or Class III seats, next up 2028 or 2030)
Jim Banks (IN), John Barrasso (WY), Marsha Blackburn (TN), John Boozman (AR), Katie Britt (AL), Ted Budd (NC), Kevin Cramer (ND), Mike Crapo (ID), Ted Cruz (TX), John Curtis (UT), John Fetterman (D-PA), Deb Fischer (NE), Chuck Grassley (IA), Josh Hawley (MO), John Hoeven (ND), James Justice (WV), John Kennedy (LA), James Lankford (OK), Mike Lee (UT), Jerry Moran (KS), Bernie Moreno (OH), Eric Schmitt (MO), Rick Scott (FL), Tim Scott (SC), Tim Sheehy (MT), John Thune (SD), Roger Wicker (MS), Ron Johnson (WI), Todd Young (IN)
This covers the concurrent resolution that, for the first time in the 1973 War Powers Resolution’s history, passed both chambers of Congress directing President Trump to remove U.S. forces from hostilities with Iran. A “Nay” vote below means that member voted against restricting Trump’s ability to continue military action.
47 Republicans and 1 Democrat (John Fetterman, PA) voted Nay. Only Class II senators (and the two 2026 special-election seats in Ohio and Florida) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot.
Up for re-election November 3, 2026 (19 of the 48)
Alan Armstrong (OK, R): Seeking re-election
Shelley Moore Capito (WV, R): Seeking re-election
John Cornyn (TX, R): Seeking re-election
Tom Cotton (AR, R): Seeking re-election
Steve Daines (MT, R): Retiring, not seeking re-election
Joni Ernst (IA, R): Retiring, not seeking re-election
Lindsey Graham (SC, R): Deceased (July 2026); seat still on the Nov. ballot
Bill Hagerty (TN, R): Seeking re-election
Jon Husted (OH, R): 2026 special election (filling J.D. Vance’s seat)
Cindy Hyde-Smith (MS, R): Seeking re-election
Cynthia Lummis (WY, R): Retiring, not seeking re-election
Roger Marshall (KS, R): Seeking re-election
Ashley Moody (FL, R): 2026 special election (filling Marco Rubio’s seat)
Pete Ricketts (NE, R): Seeking re-election
James Risch (ID, R): Seeking re-election
Mike Rounds (SD, R): Seeking re-election
Dan Sullivan (AK, R): Seeking re-election
Thom Tillis (NC, R): Retiring, not seeking re-election
Tommy Tuberville (AL, R): Running for AL Governor, not seeking Senate re-election
Not up in 2026 (29 of the 48: Class I or Class III seats, next up 2028 or 2030)
Jim Banks (IN), John Barrasso (WY), Marsha Blackburn (TN), John Boozman (AR), Katie Britt (AL), Ted Budd (NC), Kevin Cramer (ND), Mike Crapo (ID), Ted Cruz (TX), John Curtis (UT), John Fetterman (D-PA), Deb Fischer (NE), Chuck Grassley (IA), Josh Hawley (MO), John Hoeven (ND), James Justice (WV), John Kennedy (LA), James Lankford (OK), Mike Lee (UT), Jerry Moran (KS), Bernie Moreno (OH), Eric Schmitt (MO), Rick Scott (FL), Tim Scott (SC), Tim Sheehy (MT), John Thune (SD), Roger Wicker (MS), Ron Johnson (WI), Todd Young (IN)
207 Republicans and 1 Independent (Kevin Kiley, CA) voted Nay. Every House seat is up for election every two years, so all 208 of these members’ seats are on the November 3, 2026 ballot (individual retirement/other-office announcements aside: check your state’s filing deadlines for specifics on open seats).
Listed by state (last name as recorded in the official roll call; disambiguating state tags like “(FL)” appear where the House Clerk uses them to distinguish same-surname members):
AK: Begich
AL: Aderholt, Moore (AL), Palmer, Rogers (AL), Strong
AR: Crawford, Hill (AR), Westerman, Womack
AZ: Biggs (AZ), Ciscomani, Crane, Gosar, Hamadeh (AZ), Schweikert
CA: Calvert, Fong, Issa, Kiley (CA) [Independent], Kim, McClintock, Obernolte, Valadao
CO: Boebert, Crank, Evans (CO), Hurd (CO)
FL: Bean (FL), Bilirakis, Buchanan, Cammack, Diaz-Balart, Donalds, Dunn (FL), Fine, Franklin (Scott), Gimenez, Haridopolos, Lee (FL), Luna, Mast, Mills, Patronis, Rutherford, Salazar, Steube, Webster (FL)
GA: Allen, Carter (GA), Clyde, Collins, Fuller, Jack, Loudermilk, McCormick, Scott (Austin)
IA: Feenstra, Hinson, Miller-Meeks, Nunn (IA)
ID: Fulcher, Simpson
IL: Bost, LaHood, Miller (IL)
IN: Baird, Houchin, Messmer, Shreve, Spartz, Stutzman, Yakym
KS: Estes, Mann, Schmidt
KY: Barr, Comer, Guthrie, Rogers (KY)
LA: Higgins (LA), Letlow, Scalise
MD: Harris (MD)
MI: Bergman, Huizenga, James, McClain, Moolenaar, Walberg
MN: Emmer, Finstad, Fischbach, Stauber
MO: Alford, Burlison, Graves, Onder, Smith (MO), Wagner
MS: Ezell, Guest, Kelly (MS)
MT: Downing, Zinke
NC: Edwards, Foxx, Harrigan, Harris (NC), Hudson, Knott, McDowell, Moore (NC), Murphy, Rouzer
ND: Fedorchak
NE: Bacon, Flood, Smith (NE)
NJ: Smith (NJ), Van Drew
NV: Amodei (NV)
NY: Garbarino, LaLota, Langworthy, Lawler, Malliotakis, Stefanik, Tenney
OH: Balderson, Carey, Jordan, Joyce (OH), Latta, Miller (OH), Rulli, Taylor, Turner (OH)
OK: Bice, Brecheen, Cole, Hern (OK), Lucas
OR: Bentz
PA: Bresnahan, Joyce (PA), Kelly (PA), Mackenzie, Meuser, Perry, Reschenthaler, Smucker, Thompson (PA)
SC: Biggs (SC), Fry, Timmons, Wilson (SC)
TN: Burchett, DesJarlais, Fleischmann, Harshbarger, Kustoff, Rose, Van Epps
TX: Arrington, Babin, Carter (TX), Cloud, Crenshaw, De La Cruz, Ellzey, Fallon, Gill (TX), Goldman (TX), Gooden, Hunt, Jackson (TX), McCaul, Moran (TX), Nehls, Pfluger, Roy, Self, Sessions, Van Duyne, Weber (TX), Williams (TX)
UT: Kennedy (UT), Maloy, Moore (UT), Owens
VA: Cline, Griffith, Kiggans (VA), McGuire, Wittman
WA: Baumgartner, Newhouse
WI: Fitzgerald, Grothman, Steil, Tiffany, Van Orden, Wied
WV: Miller (WV), Moore (WV)
WY: Hageman
The War Powers Resolution (H.Con.Res. 86) would have legally forced Trump to withdraw U.S. forces from hostilities with Iran unless Congress explicitly authorized a declaration of war or use of military force. It did pass both the House and Senate in June 2026 (a first in the 1973 law’s history), but because it’s a concurrent resolution it never went to Trump’s desk, carries no legal force, and the administration has simply continued operations, treating it as symbolic.
To actually bind Trump, Congress would need to pass a joint resolution (not a concurrent resolution) invoking the War Powers Resolution. That version does go to the president’s desk, and if he vetoes it, Congress would need a two-thirds majority in both chambers to override, making it enforceable law. Short of that, Congress’s other real lever is the power of the purse, refusing to appropriate funds for the operation, since resolutions alone have proven to be non-binding gestures that Trump can ignore.
🎥 PS: Be sure to check out our new podcast, Interview With The Disruptors on YouTube.
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