President Donald Trump sharply criticized lawmakers Wednesday night after the U.S. House of Representatives passed a measure aimed at limiting his ability to continue military action in Iran.
In a Truth Social post, Trump called the vote “meaningless” and accused those who supported it of being unpatriotic. He wrote that the House had acted “right in the middle of my final negotiations to end the War with the Islamic Republic of Iran.” He specifically blamed Democrats, whom he said were driven by “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” and four Republicans he labeled “GRANDSTANDERS” who should be “ashamed of themselves.”
The House passed the war powers resolution by a narrow 215-208 vote. Four Republicans — Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Tom Barrett of Michigan, and Warren Davidson of Ohio — joined nearly all Democrats in support. The measure seeks to force the president to withdraw U.S. forces from hostilities in the Persian Gulf or obtain formal approval from Congress to continue the conflict.
Symbolic but Significant
While the resolution is largely symbolic and faces major hurdles before it could take effect, legal experts say it still carries weight. Michael Glennon, a professor of constitutional and international law at Tufts University, noted that the vote puts Congress on record strongly opposing the war.
“Congress is in effect saying: now, we really, really, really, really think this is unlawful, and you need to get out,” Glennon said.
The White House has dismissed the measure as an unconstitutional attempt to restrict presidential power. Because it is a concurrent resolution, it would not require Trump’s signature even if the Senate passes an identical version. If the Senate changes the language, it would become a joint resolution, which Trump would almost certainly veto.
This was the fourth time the House has tried to restrain Trump’s war powers regarding Iran. A similar resolution advanced in the Senate in May but has not received a full vote.
Growing Opposition
Public support for the war has declined as gas prices have risen. A New York Times/Siena poll from May found that 64% of registered voters believed Trump was wrong to go to war with Iran, while only 34% supported the decision. Opposition was especially strong among Democrats (93%) and independent voters (73%), while 70% of Republicans backed the president’s actions.
The vote also highlighted growing divisions inside the Republican Party. It came just days after conservative lawmakers forced the administration to drop plans for a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund.
Representative Tom Barrett defended his vote, saying, “Congress alone declares war, that’s something certainly we need to be protective of.” When asked if he feared political retaliation from Trump, Barrett replied that he votes his conscience.
What Happens Next
The conflict with Iran has now passed the 60-day limit set by the War Powers Resolution of 1973, a law designed to prevent presidents from keeping troops in combat indefinitely without congressional approval. The Trump administration has argued that this restriction is unconstitutional.
Although Wednesday’s vote is unlikely to immediately force a change in policy, it adds political pressure on the White House to bring the war to an end as opposition continues to build both in Congress and among the American public.
