The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives has approved a resolution aimed at preventing President Donald Trump from continuing military operations against Iran without congressional approval, marking a significant political setback for the administration.
The measure passed by a narrow vote of 215 to 208, with four Republicans joining Democrats in support. The resolution directs Trump to withdraw U.S. forces from hostilities involving Iran unless Congress formally declares war or specifically authorizes military action.
Although the resolution is unlikely to have an immediate impact because it must also pass the Senate and could face constitutional challenges, the vote highlights growing concern among lawmakers about the administration’s handling of the conflict.
The decision represents one of the most significant bipartisan challenges to presidential war powers in recent years. Previous attempts to pass similar measures had failed, although by increasingly narrow margins. House Republican leaders reportedly delayed a vote on the latest proposal last month when it became clear it might pass.
President Donald Trump strongly criticized the vote, calling it unpatriotic and accusing Republicans who supported the measure of undermining his efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict with Iran. In a social media statement, Trump said the lawmakers who crossed party lines should be ashamed of themselves.
The four Republicans who voted in favor were Representatives Tom Barrett of Michigan, Warren Davidson of Ohio, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, and Thomas Massie of Kentucky. No Democrats opposed the measure.
The vote comes amid broader signs of Republican unease with some of Trump’s recent policies. Lawmakers have also challenged administration proposals on Ukraine aid, government spending, intelligence appointments, and other domestic initiatives.
Supporters of the resolution argue that the U.S. Constitution gives Congress the sole authority to declare war and that military action against Iran should not continue without legislative approval. They also warn that the conflict could drag the United States into another prolonged Middle East war while contributing to higher fuel prices and increased costs for American consumers.
Representative Gregory Meeks, who sponsored the resolution, said the vote reflected growing public opposition to an open-ended conflict and demonstrated that lawmakers were listening to constituents concerned about another major military engagement overseas.
Critics of the measure, however, argue that it is a political maneuver designed to weaken the administration and limit the president’s ability to respond to national security threats. The Trump administration maintains that military operations against Iran are necessary to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons and to protect U.S. interests in the region.
Attention now shifts to the Senate, where a similar resolution has advanced procedurally but has yet to receive a final vote. If approved there, it would set up a major constitutional and political battle over the balance of power between Congress and the White House in matters of war and national security.
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