The US House of Representatives voted 215 to 208 on Wednesday in favour of a war powers resolution that would force President Donald Trump to seek congressional approval for the ongoing conflict with Iran or withdraw US forces. The vote was a significant rebuke to Trump, with four Republicans joining Democrats to back the measure.
The dissident Republicans were Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Warren Davidson of Ohio and Tom Barrett of Michigan. Wednesday's vote came nearly two weeks after House Republicans cancelled an earlier scheduled vote, citing a lack of votes to defeat it.
The resolution now moves to the Senate, where a similar measure previously advanced with the support of four Republican defectors. The vote invokes the 1973 War Powers Resolution, which requires a president to seek congressional authorisation after 90 days of hostilities. The White House has argued that a temporary ceasefire since 8 April resets the clock, but the ceasefire has been repeatedly broken. The resolution is largely symbolic, as its legal force is unclear, but it highlights growing Republican willingness to defy Trump.
Top House Democrats Hakeem Jeffries, Katherine Clark and Pete Aguilar said in a joint statement: 'Following repeated attempts to get sycophants in the Republican-controlled House to join us, House Democrats successfully passed our war powers resolution today to stand up for the American people and hold Donald Trump accountable. It is now time for Senate Republicans to do the right thing.' Public opinion polls have shown low support for the war, with Republicans fearing rising fuel costs could hurt them in November's midterm elections. Trump has already punished dissenters, such as Massie, who lost a primary after clashing with the president. In recent days, Senate Republicans also forced Trump to abandon a $1bn security funding demand and a proposed $1.8bn 'anti-weaponisation fund'.
