(Washington) The House of Representatives votes Thursday on a resolution aimed at limiting the powers of Donald Trump in the war against Iran, the text however appearing doomed to failure the day after the Senate’s refusal to adopt a similar initiative.
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Elected officials must vote on a resolution presented by elected Republican Thomas Massie and Democrat Ro Khanna, which would require the American president to obtain authorization from Congress before continuing the war against Tehran.
Faced with a president who has extended the influence of executive power over the legislature since his return to the White House in January 2025, many Democratic parliamentarians say they want to reaffirm the authority of Congress, the only one authorized by the Constitution of the United States to declare war.
“Donald Trump deliberately refused to obtain congressional authorization for this chosen war, a war that has now spread to more than 10 countries in the Middle East,” said Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic minority leader in the House of Representatives.
But if Congress has the sole authority to declare war, a 1973 law allows the president to trigger a limited military intervention to respond to an emergency created by an attack against the United States.
The House resolution would direct the president to withdraw U.S. forces from “unauthorized hostilities” in Iran unless Congress approves the operation.
A line that Republicans refuse to adopt, with House Speaker Mike Johnson calling it a “terrible, dangerous idea” that would “empower our enemies.”
But his colleague Thomas Massie, who initiated the resolution, assured him that it would reaffirm the role of Congress.
“In our Constitution, the power to declare war rests exclusively with Congress,” he said. “Congress owes our military a clearly defined mission, so that when it is accomplished, they can return home.”
Even if adopted, the text would probably not survive a veto by the president, since two-thirds of the votes in both chambers would then be necessary.
