The House approved a war powers resolution Wednesday that would halt the US military action against Iran, defying President Trump as a handful of Republicans joined with Democrats to end the three-month-long war that has reordered politics at home and abroad. House Speaker Mike Johnson had tried to prevent an outcome that would show the mounting opposition to the war, abruptly shutting down floor action two weeks ago when the war powers resolution was on the verge of approval. But displeasure has only grown as the conflict drags on. The roll call Wednesday was 215-208. Cheers then erupted in the House chamber, the AP reports.
Republican Reps. Thomas Massie, Tom Barrett, Warren Davidson, and Brian Fitzpatrick voted with Democrats to approve the resolution, the Washington Post reports.
- "This reckless and costly war of choice needs to end today," House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said earlier in the week. "All we need are a handful of Republicans to join us and we can end this reckless and costly war of choice." During debate on the House floor, Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks, the ranking Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Committee, said: "We are trapped in a war that won't end because an incompetent president launched it thinking of only his own ego while failing to prepare for the consequences. Diplomacy is the only exit from this, not more bombing, not more bluster."
- It was the fourth time the House tried to curb the US war against Iran, and the first time the measure passed. The House deadlocked 212-212 in a vote last month.
- The war powers resolution from the House would not immediately stop the war, but it would provide a symbolic if not legal step against further military action. It now goes to the Senate, where four Republican members last month joined Democrats in advancing a similar measure to curtail the war. The Senate has yet to take a final vote to approve or reject its own war powers resolution.
- If the resolution made it as far as Trump's desk, he would be certain to veto it, a move that would take a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate to override, the Post reports.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Wednesday, testifying at a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, that the Iranians would think that the administration's "hands are going to be tied" if Congress approved a war powers resolution. He said they would think "we won't be able to do anything to them, so why make a deal?"
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