The US House of Representatives just voted to limit President Donald Trump’s power regarding Iran. This is the first time Congress has done this since the conflict started over three months ago.
The war powers resolution got 215 yea votes against 208 nays. Four Republicans supported it along with all the Democrats.
This outcome shows a significant rift in Republican ranks for a conflict that Trump initiated without seeking Congressional approval.
Originally, the vote was set two weeks prior, but Republican leaders delayed it to avoid it passing right before the Memorial Day recess.
This delay seemed to indicate that GOP leadership was actually losing control over their members on this topic.
The resolution, introduced by Representative Gregory Meeks of New York, the top Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Committee, instructs Trump to pull US armed forces out of hostilities with Iran unless Congress passes a resolution declaring war or authorising the use of military force.
The vote is the fourth time the House has voted on a Democrat led Iran war powers resolution since the war began, with all previous attempts failing by narrow margins, including a 212 to 212 tie on 14 May.
Though the concurrent resolution isn’t law and doesn’t go to the president for a signature, it still packs a political punch.
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It highlights the increasing unease in Congress about how the conflict is going. So, while it doesn’t have legal power, it surely makes a pointed statement.
Growing fractures
After the Senate took its own steps in May, voting 50 to 47 to move a separate war powers resolution forward, the House cast their vote.
This earlier Senate vote saw Republican senators Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Rand Paul, and Bill Cassidy join the Democrats.
Only Senator John Fetterman from Pennsylvania went against his fellow Democrats on this issue.
Tensions on Capitol Hill have been high due to the ongoing stand off in the Strait of Hormuz, which is messing with global shipping and increasing gas prices in the U.S.
In May, a Fox News poll showed that around 60% of voters weren’t on board with military action against Iran.
Ahead of the House vote, Speaker Mike Johnson had some words for reporters defending the administration’s stance.
He stated that Iran had declared war on the U.S. 47 years ago and praised the president for trying to keep the nation safe.
Not impressed, Trump dismissed the whole situation on Truth Social, calling it “meaningless” and taking shots at the four Republican senators who defected, labeling them as “bad Republicans.”
Tim Kaine, the sponsor of the Senate version, said he can’t say whether he’ll get more Republican support, but said there is increasing constituent opposition to the war that could sway votes.
While legislative options to end the conflict remain limited, the House result is the clearest sign yet of bipartisan frustration with the conflict.
