TJ Madsen is among the founding members of the New Herald Tribune and chairs the editorial board. He worked for national syndicated newspapers in Newark, Philadelphia, and Baltimore before moving to the midwest.
September 25 , 2026
WASHINGTON — A heated dispute over congressional authority to limit U.S. military operations in Iran turned physical Thursday, as Senate Republicans Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Thom Tillis of North Carolina confronted one another on the Senate floor during debate over a War Powers resolution.
The confrontation began as an unusually sharp exchange over the measure, which sought to direct the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities involving Iran absent specific congressional authorization.
McConnell and Tillis reportedly exchanged increasingly angry words near the chamber's Republican side before the argument escalated. Witnesses described the two senators shouting at one another for several minutes.
The confrontation then became physical.
McConnell allegedly grabbed Tillis by the collar and pulled him toward him, prompting several senators and staff members to move quickly between the two lawmakers.
“You're not going to do this on the floor,” McConnell was heard saying before threatening to “break your face.”
No punches were thrown. Senate security officers and congressional staff intervened and separated the two men, with Tillis escorted away from the immediate area. For several minutes after the incident, the Senate chamber remained tense as lawmakers attempted to resume debate.
Both senators eventually returned to the floor separately, though neither addressed the alleged confrontation publicly.
The measure ultimately failed in the Senate.
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