Seven Republicans joined with Democrats to block President Donald Trump’s arms deal with Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
Trump was using an emergency deal to skip Congress’s 30-day review process for the 22 sales, which would be worth more than $8 billion. The deal would have provided weapons to Saudi Arabia, as well as the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, according to The Hill.
The Senate held three votes, the first going 53-45, as well as the second and the third both going 51-45. Seven Republicans joined Democrats on the first two votes, while five Republicans joined Democrats on the second vote, Politico reported. Democrats only needed four Republicans to block the sale.
Five Republicans voted with Democrats to block all of the presidents 22 arms sales. However, Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski voted to block two sales, but voted for the additional 20 arms sales and Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee voted to block two of the sales and was later absent for the third vote.
South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham and New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez initially filed 22 resolutions of disapproval against the sales. However, after weeks of negotiations, Senate leaders agreed to hold only three votes, with all resolutions included, according to The Washington Post.
US Senator Rand Paul asks a question during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Washington, DC on July 25, 2018. (Photo credit: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP/Getty Images)
Here are the seven senators who voted to block the arms sales:
- Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins
- South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham
- Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee
- Kansas Republican Sen. Jerry Moran
- Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski
- Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul
- Indiana Republican Sen. Todd Young
According to Politico, Graham said he hopes he is sending a message to Saudi Arabia before the vote, saying that “if you act the way you’re acting there is no space for a strategic relations.” (RELATED: Pelosi Says House Intends To Block Arms Sales To Saudi Arabia)
Before the vote, Paul gave a speech on the Senate floor asking voters to reconsider voting for members who voted in favor of the arms deal, saying “this is a big deal and a big it is my hope the American people will watch how people vote and decide, is this who I want representing me?”
In May, the Trump administration signed a $110 billion weapons deal with Saudi Arabia.