Republicans cancel vote on upcoming Iran war resolution

WASHINGTON — Republicans struggled Thursday to find the votes to defeat legislation that would have mandated it. president donald trump quit war with iranpostponing a planned vote on the matter until June.

The House plans to vote on a Democratic war powers resolution that would curb Trump’s military actions. But as it became clear Republicans couldn’t muster enough votes to defeat the bill, Republican leaders refused to hold a vote on the bill. It’s the latest sign of declining congressional support for the war Trump launched more than two months ago without congressional approval.

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“We got the votes without a doubt, and they know it, so they’re playing a political game,” said Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks, the bill’s sponsor.

Senate Republicans are also working to ensure they have the votes to defeat another war powers resolution Enter the final vote Four Republican senators supported the resolution earlier this week and three others voted absentee.

The actions by congressional leaders show that Republicans are struggling to maintain political support for Trump’s handling of the war. Rank-and-file Republicans are increasingly willing to defy the president on conflict issues.

House Republican Leader Steve Scalise told reporters the vote was delayed to give absent members a chance to vote. House Speaker Mike Johnson did not answer reporters’ questions as he left the chamber.

On Capitol Hill, patience with the war is wearing thin as the war stalemates. Strait of Hormuz Disrupting global shipping and Increase natural gas prices In the United States, another House war powers resolution nearly passed last week, but ended in a tie as three Republicans voted in favor.

Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said his vote was “locked” this time.

“People are finally starting to listen to the American people who don’t support the war with Iran, and I think more and more Republicans are seeing the devastation this war is having on our country,” said Democratic Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state.

Maine Rep. Jared Golden, the only Democrat to vote against the war powers resolution last week, said he would vote for the bill next time.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other caucus leaders said in a joint statement that it would be “cowardly” for Republicans to withdraw their vote.

“Even as we prepare to honor our nation’s fallen heroes on Memorial Day, House Republicans refuse to show up and hold accountable the brave service members who are recklessly put in harm’s way,” they said.

Republicans generally support Trump’s efforts to destroy Iran’s nuclear capabilities, but some now say the president’s legal deadline for launching war without congressional approval has expired. Under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, the president has 60 days to engage in military conflict before Congress must declare war or authorize the use of force.

“It’s been 60 days, so it has to be brought to our table for a vote. We’re following the law,” Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., said, adding that he planned to vote in favor of the war powers resolution.

The White House argued that because of the ceasefire with Iran, the requirements of the War Powers Resolution no longer apply. Meanwhile, Trump said he was just an hour away from ordering another attack on Iran earlier this week, but delayed it as Gulf allies said they were negotiating an end to the war.

Still, Trump said on social media that military leaders should be “prepared to launch a full, massive attack on Iran immediately if an acceptable deal is not reached.” Trump has repeatedly set deadlines for Tehran but then backed off.

Republican Senator Thom Tillis, who has so far voted against the war powers resolution, expressed frustration with the Trump administration’s stance, particularly that of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

“The current situation with Pete Hegseth shows how incompetent he is,” Tillis told reporters, adding that he was willing to vote for authorization to use military force.

Earlier this week, Democratic senators rallied outside the Capitol on Wednesday with VoteVets, a left-leaning veterans advocacy group. They posted signs on the Capitol lawn noting that the national average price of gasoline had risen to $4.53.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth, an Illinois Democrat who served with the Air National Guard in the Iraq War, believes the Iran war was a strategic mistake for Trump.

“Trump started a war and he made things worse than before,” Duckworth said, referring to Iran’s new leadership and the country’s willingness to block commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Republican leaders praised Trump for taking what they said were bold actions to directly confront Iran, a country that has been an adversary of the United States for decades.

“I’m an American. I don’t believe in getting hit and walking away and pretending it didn’t happen,” said Rep. Brian Mast, the Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

For Congress, momentum is building to pass a war powers resolution that could ultimately lead to a legal showdown over who has the final say in military conflicts.

The legislation filed in the House is a concurrent resolution that lawmakers said would not require Trump’s signature to take effect if passed by both chambers of Congress.

But Trump also argued that the 1973 law – passed by Congress during the Vietnam War in an attempt to take back its authority over foreign conflicts – was unconstitutional.

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