WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump clashed with Republican Senator Bill Cassidy during a closed-door meeting with Senate Republicans at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, according to lawmakers and multiple media reports, in a dispute centered on U.S. policy toward Iran and a recent Senate vote seeking to limit presidential war powers.
The confrontation occurred during a luncheon with Republican senators as Trump sought support for his legislative priorities and addressed concerns within his party over the administration’s handling of the conflict involving Iran. Several senators had backed a war powers resolution that would have restricted further U.S. military action without congressional approval.
According to senators who later described the exchange, Cassidy challenged Trump over the administration’s objectives and communication regarding the conflict. Cassidy told reporters after the meeting that he pressed the president for additional information, saying, “Our original objectives have not been achieved, and I want to know what’s going on.”
Multiple news organizations reported that voices were raised during the discussion and that Trump repeatedly told Cassidy to sit down. Sources familiar with the meeting said Trump at one point referred to the Louisiana senator as a “lunatic.” Details of the private exchange remain unclear because the meeting was closed to the public.
The dispute came amid broader tensions between Trump and some Senate Republicans. Earlier on Wednesday, Trump declined to proceed with signing a bipartisan housing bill, saying he wanted Congress to advance his voting legislation first. Several Republican senators have expressed frustration that the voting proposal lacks sufficient support to advance in the Senate.
The meeting also highlighted divisions within the Republican conference over foreign policy. Cassidy was among a small group of Republican senators who had supported the war powers measure before the Capitol meeting. Senate Republicans later rejected the resolution in a subsequent vote, according to the Associated Press.
Speaking to reporters afterward, Trump characterized the gathering as positive, saying, “We had a really great meeting.” Cassidy, meanwhile, said he sought answers on behalf of the public and added that he did not want to be “bullied” during the discussion.
As of Thursday, no further meetings between Trump and Cassidy had been announced, and Republican leaders were continuing discussions on both the administration’s foreign policy agenda and pending domestic legislation.
