
House Rebukes Trump on Iran War Powers in Rare Bipartisan Vote
The House voted to limit the president’s war powers in Iran in a rare break from President Donald Trump Wednesday. Democrats have repeatedly forced votes on the issue, but as more members of the GOP have expressed reservations about violations of the War Powers Act, supporters of the resolution were able to whip up enough votes for it to pass.
The resolution passed 215 to 208. Representatives Thomas Massie, Brian Fitzpatrick, Tom Barrett and Warren Davidson crossed the aisle to vote with Democrats to help pass the measure.
Massie, an isolationist who has frequently criticized Trump for his policies regarding the Middle East, lost his primary to a Trump-backed candidate, Ed Gallrein, in May.
“People are tired of this,” Massie said after the vote. “They’re tired of $5 gallon gas and $6 gallon diesel, and fertilizer we can’t afford to put on our fields in Kentucky.” The war powers vote therefore “sends a good message that the people’s House, which represents the people, is tired of this war.”
“There’s a law on the books,” Fitzpatrick said, referencing the War Powers Act. “I don’t see what’s complicated about it. Bring it to Congress, debate it on the merits, and have this vote. That’s the way the system is supposed to work.”
The War Powers Act stipulates that after 60 days of hostilities, the president must obtain congressional authorization to continue military operations against a foreign power. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has said that he believes the 60-day clock reset when the ceasefire was established.