The proposal, presented by Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, aims to ensure that the president seeks permission from Congress before any new military interventions.
Trump said on Friday that he can imagine bombing Iran's nuclear power plants again if it would be required.
Without a doubt, absolutely, he said.
That the proposal was rejected was expected. Trump's party, the Republicans, control the Senate and the proposal fell with the numbers 53–47. A Democrat, John Fetterman, joined the Republicans' opposition, while Republican Rand Paul voted yes.
Support for Trump's decision to bomb three important nuclear power plants last weekend without asking for permission first has been broad among Republicans.
Of course, we can discuss the scope and strategy of our military interventions. But we must not bind our president in the middle of a crisis when lives are at stake, said Senator Bill Hagerty.
Democrats are not just upset that Trump did not ask for permission, but also that the congressmen were not properly informed about the attacks.
The idea is this: We should not send our sons and daughters to war if there is no political agreement that this is a good idea, that it is in the nation's interest, said Tim Kaine in an interview with AP on Thursday.
The proposal relies on a law from the 1970s, the so-called War Powers Resolution, which states that the president should "consult Congress" before American forces are deployed.
