House votes to limit Trump's war powers on Iran - National & International News -

House votes to limit Trump’s war powers on Iran

The House of Representatives has passed a resolution to limit Trump’s ability to continue waging war against Iran without Congressional approval. Four Republicans (Brian Fitzpatrick – PA; Thomas Massie – KY; Tom Barrett – MI; and Warren Davidson – OH) joined all House Democrats in voting for the resolution.

The resolution’s supporters likely had the votes to pass it on May 21, but Republican House leadership postponed the vote. Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson protested its passage today, claiming it would limit Trump’s negotiating power with Iran. However, Johnson is finding it increasingly difficult to whip votes from his caucus to support key parts of Trump’s agenda, especially after several of them have lost primary challenges to Trump-backed candidates. Republicans are also under increasing pressure to rein in Trump when it comes to the war, which has driven up prices on gas and a host of other goods.

The resolution still needs to pass the Senate but does not require Trump’s signature. Even if it the Senate passes it, there’s no guarantee Congress will vote to revoke authorization for further US military action against Iran. However, Congress could demand consultation. Trump officials have also claimed the War Powers Act is unconstitutional, despite Congress’ authority to declare war being enshrined in Article 1 of the Constitution.

Trump butts heads with Netanyahu

Earlier this week, Axios reported on a heated phone call between President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The context of the call was that Iran had signaled they would back away from peace talks if Israel bombed the Lebanese capital of Beirut as they had threatened to do. Iran has been clear from the beginning that any peace settlement required peace on all fronts of the war, including the fronts opened by Israel. Trump had said that the shooting would stop but Netanyahu claimed that Israel would move ahead with its bombing regardless.

The US official who spoke to Axios summarized Trump’s words to Netanyahu: “You’re fucking crazy. You’d be in prison if it weren’t for me. I’m saving your ass. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this”. Netanyahu’s office denied some of these details were accurate but Trump has confirmed at least some of them. While Israel continues to seize territory and bomb villages in southern Lebanon, they did back away from plans to bomb Beirut.

The episode illustrates a key tension regarding Israel’s territorial ambitions and Trump’s political goals. Trump wants a peace settlement with Iran, while Israel wants the war to continue. Israel also has no intention of giving up the territory it has captured, even though Lebanon’s Hezbollah is exacting a heavy price by deploying explosive drones against their ground forces.

Cutting the cord

Following October 7, 2023, and Israel’s merciless military onslaught against the people of Gaza (which many consider a genocide), there were frequent reports that President Biden was unhappy with Netanyahu and that he had even cursed him privately. However, despite the human cost in Gaza, the political cost for Biden and the loss of global diplomatic standing for both the US and Israel, Biden continued providing unfettered military and diplomatic support to Israel. The US remains Israel’s chief supplier of weapons, including defensive weapons, which are quickly running out.

As in Biden’s case, there is little sign yet that Trump intends to withdraw US support from Israel and force them to heel, despite his harsh words to Netanyahu. In fact, the new must-pass National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) contains a provision which would permanently enmesh the US and Israeli military development sectors. Critics of the provision say it would make it nearly impossible to unwind US military support for Israel in the future, even as Americans’ opinions on Israel continues to sour.