Leftists fumed after Democrat Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin skipped two key Israel arms votes to tape an appearance on Stephen Colbert’s show Wednesday.
Slotkin missed several votes, including two resolutions aimed at blocking more than $675 million in arms sales to Israel — measures that were ultimately rejected but attracted growing support from fellow Democrats pushing for an embargo, according to an Axios report.
Tune in tonight!! pic.twitter.com/ICugFqCm7g
— Elissa Slotkin (@ElissaSlotkin) July 30, 2025
The Senate voted down two resolutions aimed at halting arms sales to Israel, with final tallies of 70-27 for the first vote, and 73-24 for the second vote. (RELATED: Israel Announces It Recovered Body Of Hamas Leader From Group’s Terror Tunnels)
Twenty-five Democrats and two Independents supported blocking the deals in the first vote.
Slotkin was one of just three senators who didn’t vote on the resolutions — skipping the key roll calls while in New York to tape an appearance on CBS’ “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”
S.J.Res.34 and S.J.Res.41 were both introduced by Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.
“I owe it to my state to make clear where I stand: Had I made it back for the vote yesterday, I would have voted yes to block offensive weapons to Israel based on my concerns over lack of food and medicine getting to civilians in Gaza.” https://t.co/WmPo5F6kCS
— Josh Stewart (@JoshDStewart) July 31, 2025
Slotkin missed eight of nine Senate votes held between around 11:30 a.m. and 10 p.m. Wednesday, including the high-profile resolution led by Sanders aimed at blocking the Trump administration’s proposed arms sales to Israel, according to a report from The Detroit News.
The other missed votes she skipped were tied to confirming Trump administration nominees, including multiple cabinet-level and executive branch appointments.
“The senator was very disappointed to miss this vote last night, and she worked very hard to make it in time because she knows how important this is to Michigan,” Slotkin’s spokesman Josh Stewart stated to the outlet.
Sanders’ team pointed out that support for a similar measure had previously peaked at 18 votes, according to the outlet.
This marked the third time he has brought the issue to a Senate vote, according to the report. (RELATED: Sen. Elissa Slotkin Admits ‘War Plan’ To Defeat Trump Agenda Is Not Enough To Retake Senate)
Slotkin also joined the podcast “Breaking Points with Krystal and Saagar,” where hosts Krystal Ball and Saagar Enjeti pressed her on Tuesday over her previous backing of legislation that provided aid to Israel.
The Trump administration claims the proposed arms sales will boost Israel’s capacity to counter regional threats and are in line with U.S. national security interests.
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