By LISA MASCARO, AP Congressional Correspondent
WASHINGTON (AP) — Key members of Congress are demanding a swift vote on a conflict powers decision that might restrain President Donald Trump’s army assault on Iran except the administration wins their approval for what they warn is a doubtlessly unlawful marketing campaign that dangers pulling the USA right into a deeper Center East battle.
Each the Home and Senate, the place the president’s Republican Social gathering has a slim majority, had already drafted such resolutions lengthy earlier than the strikes Saturday. Now they’re able to plunge right into a uncommon conflict powers debate subsequent week that may function a referendum on Trump’s resolution to go it alone on army motion with out formal authorization from Congress.
“Has President Trump realized nothing from many years of U.S. meddling in Iran and perpetually wars within the Center East?” stated Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., a frontrunner within the bipartisan effort. He stated the strikes on Iran had been “a colossal mistake.”
Within the Home, Reps. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Thomas Massie, R-Ky., are demanding Congress go on file with a public vote on their very own bipartisan measure. “Congress should convene on Monday to vote,” Khanna stated, “to cease this.”
Massie blasted Trump’s personal presidential marketing campaign slogan and stated: “This isn’t ‘America First.’”
However most Republicans, significantly their leaders, welcomed Trump’s transfer towards Iran. Many cited the longtime U.S. adversary’s nuclear packages and missile capabilities as requiring a army response.
“Nicely achieved, Mr. President,” stated Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. “As I watch and monitor this historic operation, I’m in awe of President Trump’s dedication to be a person of peace however on the finish of the day, evil’s worst nightmare.”
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A broken automobile stays on the bottom within the aftermath of an Israeli-U.S. strike in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (AP Picture/Amir Kholousi/ISNA)
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A broken automobile stays on the bottom within the aftermath of an Israeli-U.S. strike in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (AP Picture/Amir Kholousi/ISNA)
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Conflict powers debate assessments Congress
The administration’s resolution to launch, with Israel, what seems to be an open-ended joint army operation geared toward altering the federal government in Tehran is testing the Structure’s separation of powers in deep and dramatic methods. Practically two months earlier, Trump ordered U.S. strikes that toppled Venezuelan chief Nicolás Maduro.
Whereas presidents have the authority because the commander in chief to conduct sure strategic army operations on their very own, the Structure vests Congress with the ability to wage conflict. Earlier than the Iraq Conflict started in March 2003, Republican President George W. Bush made a monthslong push to safe congressional authorization. No such vote was tried on Iran, and an earlier Senate effort to halt Trump’s actions after final summer season’s strike on Iran failed.
The congressional debate over conflict powers would principally be symbolic. Even when a decision had been to cross the narrowly cut up Congress, Trump possible would veto it and Congress wouldn’t have the two-thirds majority wanted to overturn that rejection. Congress has typically failed to dam different U.S. army actions, together with in a Senate vote on Venezuela, however the roll calls stand as a public file.
Republican leaders again Trump’s motion
The response by Home Speaker Mike Johnson mirrored the celebration’s long-standing views. Iran, he stated, is going through “the extreme penalties of its evil actions.”
Johnson, R-La., stated the leaders of the Home and Senate and the respective intelligence committees had been briefed intimately earlier within the week that army motion “could develop into obligatory” to guard U.S. troops and residents in Iran. He stated he obtained updates from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and can keep in “shut contact” with Trump and the Protection Division “as this operation proceeds.”
Senate Majority Chief John Thune, R-S.D., counseled Trump “for taking motion to thwart these threats.”
Thune stated he regarded ahead to administration officers briefing all senators — a sign that lawmakers are looking for extra solutions to their questions on Trump’s plans forward.
Democrats warn strikes are unlawful
Many Democrats are calling the operation unlawful, saying the Structure offers Congress alone the ability to declare conflict. To them, the administration has failed to put out its rationale or plan for the army strikes, and the aftermath.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, who serves on the Senate Overseas Relations Committee, stated the president has undertaken “unlawful, regime-change conflict towards Iran.”
“This isn’t making us safer & solely damages the US & our pursuits,” Van Hollen, D-Md., stated in a social media submit. “The Senate should instantly vote on the Conflict Powers Decision to cease it.”
Home Democratic chief Hakeem Jeffries of New York stated whereas Iran is a “dangerous actor and should be aggressively confronted” for its human rights abuses and the menace it poses to the U.S. and allies, the administration “should search authorization for the preemptive use of army drive that constitutes an act of conflict.”
New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, the Democratic chief, demanded that Congress be briefed instantly on the administration’s plans.
“Iran must not ever be allowed to realize a nuclear weapon however the American individuals are not looking for one other limitless and expensive conflict within the Center East when there are such a lot of issues at residence,” he stated.
Related Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick and Matt Brown contributed to this report.
