Home · Politics · Sep 16 archive
Republicans Rebut Trump on Iran War Powers, Join Democrats in Vote
Confirmed
In Short: A handful of House Republicans defied President Trump by joining Democrats to pass a resolution aimed at curbing his war powers in Iran.
A significant shift in the political landscape emerged on Tuesday as a group of House Republicans joined Democrats to pass a resolution aimed at reining in President Trump's war powers in Iran. The measure, which passed with a 220 to 204 vote, marks a rare moment of bipartisan agreement on a contentious issue.
The war in Iran has become a political lightning rod in the current midterm election season, dividing Republicans and providing political fodder for Democrats who have accused Trump of getting into another "forever war." The conflict has also been blamed by some lawmakers and analysts for higher prices at the gas pump, which is expected to be a top issue for voters.
The resolution, which cleared the House in July, has yet to see any movement in the Senate. The Pentagon has stated that Operation Epic Fury, the initial strikes against Iran, ended in May, but the U.S. and Iran have continued to exchange fire for months. A ceasefire intended to bring the war to an end fell apart in July.
Thomas Massie, R-Ky., a well-known critic of Trump's foreign entanglements, also tried to force a vote on impeaching Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, further highlighting the internal divisions within the Republican Party. While the majority of Republicans still stand by the president, the seven who voted to rein in Trump's war powers have sent a clear message that the issue is not without its critics.
What's confirmed
- A significant shift in the political landscape emerged on Tuesday as a group of House Republicans joined Democrats to pass a resolution aimed at reining in President Trump's war powers in Iran. The measure, which passed with a 220 to 204 vote, marks a rare moment of bipartisan agreement on a contentious issue.
- The war in Iran has become a political lightning rod in the current midterm election season, dividing Republicans and providing political fodder for Democrats who have accused Trump of getting into another "forever war." The conflict has also been blamed by some lawmakers and analysts for higher prices at the gas pump, which is expected to be a top issue for voters.
- The resolution, which cleared the House in July, has yet to see any movement in the Senate. The Pentagon has stated that Operation Epic Fury, the initial strikes against Iran, ended in May, but the U.S. and Iran have continued to exchange fire for months. A ceasefire intended to bring the war to an end fell apart in July.
- Thomas Massie, R-Ky., a well-known critic of Trump's foreign entanglements, also tried to force a vote on impeaching Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, further highlighting the internal divisions within the Republican Party. While the majority of Republicans still stand by the president, the seven who voted to rein in Trump's war powers have sent a clear message that the issue is not without its critics.
What's still developing
- “I’ve been consistent on that since the war powers provision expired after 60 days of engagement,” Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Mich., told Fox News Digital on Tuesday morning ahead of the vote.
- Republicans who voted to withdraw U.S. forces from Iran have long argued that it’s on Congress to declare war, not the White House.
- The Trump administration has argued the president is acting within his constitutional authority as commander in chief and has defended the continued military operation against Iran, saying the resolution would improperly restrict the president’s ability to protect U.S. forces and national security interests.
- But it was Republicans who helped put the legislation over the edge.
- "The administration has yet to demonstrate that seven months of war have produced a lasting strategic resolution to the threats posed by Iran," Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said during floor debate Monday night.
- Barrett was among the group who voted to rein in Trump’s war powers, along with Reps. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., Nancy Mace, R-S.C., Thomas Massie, R-Ky., Marianette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, and Zach Nunn, R-Iowa.