House passes resolution to end Iran War, challenging Trump
House lawmakers on Wednesday passed legislation designed to force President Trump to end the Iran War, marking a victory for Democrats and the constitutional purists who say the conflict is illegal without explicit congressional approval.
The tally was 215-208, with four Republicans — Reps. Thomas Massie (Ky.), Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.), Tom Barrett (Mich.) and Warren Davidson (Ohio) — joining every Democrat in supporting the measure.
The development is largely symbolic, since there are lingering disputes about whether the measure, known as a concurrent resolution, carries the force of law. And Trump is certain to contest the authority of the measure even if it’s also passed by the Senate, where it’s headed next.
Still, the vote represents a significant development in the political battle over the Iran War, putting Congress on the record condemning a conflict that has dragged on for more than three months — and rattled the global economy — with no clear end in sight.
War critics in both chambers have tried numerous times over the last three months to pass resolutions to end the war, only to have them blocked by Trump’s GOP allies. That changed last month when the Senate advanced its own war powers resolution after Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) flipped his vote to yes just days after Trump helped to defeat Cassidy in Louisiana’s GOP primary. It’s unclear when the Senate measure will come up for a final vote.
In the House, Wednesday’s vote was the fourth time that critics of the war sought to end it. The first three war powers resolutions won some Republican support, but not enough to overcome the opposition of Trump’s allies in a chamber they control. Behind Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), most Republicans have argued that the conflict does not rise to the level of a war, and therefore doesn’t require congressional approval.
GOP leaders have also warned that tying Trump’s hands in the middle of the conflict would empower Tehran’s Islamic regime at the expense of American security.
The GOP’s wall of defense has eroded, however, as the conflict has grown increasingly unpopular nationally. The shift is not happening within the Republican base, who overwhelmingly support the war. But Independents have soured on conflict as it drags on — a warning sign for vulnerable Republicans fighting to keep their seats in November’s midterms.
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