Key congressional members are calling for a quick vote on a measure to limit President Donald Trump’s actions unless the administration secures their approval for what they warn is a potentially unlawful campaign that risks drawing the United States into a deeper conflict.
Both the House and Senate—where Trump’s Republican Party holds a narrow majority—had already drafted such resolutions long before recent events. Now, they’re set to dive into a rare war powers debate next week that will serve as a referendum on Trump’s decision to act unilaterally on military action without formal congressional authorization.
“Has President Trump learned nothing from decades of U.S. meddling in Iran and endless wars in the Middle East?” said Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., a leader of the bipartisan effort. He called the Iran strikes “a colossal mistake.”
In the House, Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) are demanding Congress go on record with a public vote on their bipartisan measure. “Congress must convene on Monday to vote,” Khanna said, “to stop this.”
Massie criticized Trump’s presidential campaign slogan, stating: “This is not ‘America First.’”
But most Republicans—especially their leaders—supported Trump’s move against Iran. Many cited the longtime U.S. adversary’s nuclear programs and missile capabilities as justifying a military response.
“Well done, Mr. President,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. “As I watch and monitor this historic operation, I’m in awe of President Trump’s determination to be a man of peace—but in the end, he’s evil’s worst nightmare.”
War powers debate tests Congress
The administration’s decision to launch an apparently open-ended joint military operation with Israel aimed at changing Iran’s government is testing the Constitution’s provisions in profound ways. Nearly two months earlier, Trump ordered U.S. strikes that toppled Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
While presidents, as commander in chief, have authority to conduct certain strategic military operations independently, the Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war. Before the March 2003 Iraq War, Republican President George W. Bush spent months securing congressional authorization. No such vote was sought for Iran, and an earlier Senate effort to halt Trump’s actions after [an event] failed.
The congressional war powers debate will largely be symbolic. Even if a resolution passes the narrowly split Congress, Trump would likely veto it—and Congress lacks the two-thirds majority needed to override that veto. Congress has often failed to block other U.S. military actions, including in [a conflict], but the votes remain a public record.
Republican leaders back Trump’s action
The response from [a lawmaker] reflected the party’s long-standing views. Iran, he said, is facing “the severe consequences of its evil actions.”
Johnson, R-La., noted House and Senate leaders and their respective intelligence committees were briefed in detail earlier in the week that military action “may become necessary” to protect U.S. troops and citizens in Iran. He said he received updates from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and will stay in “close contact” with Trump and the Defense Department “as this operation proceeds.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., commended Trump “for taking action to thwart these threats.”
Thune said he looks forward to administration officials briefing all senators—a signal lawmakers are seeking more answers about Trump’s future plans.
Democrats warn strikes are illegal
Many Democrats are calling the operation illegal, arguing the Constitution grants only Congress the power to declare war. They say the administration has failed to outline its rationale or plan for the military strikes and their aftermath.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, who serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the president has launched “an illegal, regime-change war against Iran.”
“This is not making us safer & only damages the U.S. & our interests,” Van Hollen, D-Md., said in a social media post. “The Senate must immediately vote on the War Powers Resolution to stop it.”
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York said while Iran is a “bad actor and must be aggressively confronted” for its human rights abuses and threats to the U.S. and allies, the administration “must seek authorization for the preemptive use of military force that constitutes an act of war.”
New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader, demanded Congress be immediately briefed on the administration’s plans.
“Iran must never be allowed to attain a nuclear weapon, but the American people do not want another endless and costly war in the Middle East when there are so many problems at home,” he said.
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Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick and Matt Brown contributed to this report.