The US House of Representatives narrowly rejected a resolution brought by Democrats to suspend the war against Iran until hostilities were authorized by Congress. This attempt to restrain President Donald Trump’s military campaign failed by the slimmest margin possible.
The House voted 212-212 on this resolution regarding war powers, resulting in its rejection due to lack of an absolute majority, despite increased support from some Republicans.
Three of Trump’s Republican allies – Tom Barrett of Michigan, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, and Thomas Massie of Kentucky – supported the resolution, while one Democrat – Jared Golden of Maine – opposed it.
This was the third House vote this year on a resolution concerning war powers in Iran and the first since the conflict reached the 60-day deadline on May 1st, requiring Trump to address Congress. Trump had declared a ‘ceasefire’ had ‘ended’ hostilities against Iran.
Seven votes also failed in the Senate.
The margins are tightening, with Trump’s Republican camp holding a slim majority in both chambers. The House’s last resolution failed on April 16 by 213-214, with one member abstaining.
In this vote, only one Republican supported the resolution.
The gap is also narrowing in the Senate, where a similar resolution was blocked by a vote of 50-49 on Wednesday, with three Republicans joining Democrats (with one exception) in favor of the measure.
DEMOCRATS INVOKE CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY
Democrats urged Trump to seek Congressional authorization for the use of military force in the Iranian conflict, emphasizing that the US Constitution states that only the legislative branch, not the president, can declare war.
They warned that Trump may have drawn the country into a prolonged conflict without a clear strategy, and protested against rising gas prices, food costs, and other products since the joint US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran on February 28.
Democrats have made purchasing power a central theme of their economic message ahead of the November midterm elections, which will determine if Republicans retain control of Congress.
US producer prices in April saw their sharpest increase in four years, driven by the surge in goods and services costs since the start of the war.
‘It’s time for the president to address us, and it’s time for us, I believe, to end this war,’ said Representative Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, during the debates.
WHITE HOUSE CITES COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF POWERS
Republicans – as well as the White House – argue that Trump’s actions are legal and fall under his prerogatives as commander-in-chief to protect the US by ordering limited military operations against an imminent threat.
Some Congressional Republicans accused Democrats of only raising war powers resolutions out of partisan opposition to Trump.
‘It’s 100% theater,’ said Representative Brian Mast of Florida, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, during the debates. He accused Democrats of giving hope to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps by introducing these resolutions.
