Latest news with #WarPowersResolution
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Indian-American Congressman to limit Trump from entering the Iran-Israel conflict
President Donald Trump's blunt warning for Iranian civilians to 'immediately evacuate Tehran' has concerned both abroad and in Washington. 'Iran should have signed the 'deal' I told them to sign. What a shame, and waste of human life. Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!' Trump posted on Truth Social. ALSO READ| US planning to strike Iran tonight? Trump official clarifies after 'evacuate Tehran' warning Now, Indian-American Rep. Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, is partnering with Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, to introduce a War Powers Resolution aimed at restricting Trump from unilaterally stepping into the U.S. in the Israel-Iran conflict. 'This is not our war. But if it were, Congress must decide such matters according to our Constitution,' Massie said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). 'I'm introducing a bipartisan War Powers Resolution tomorrow to prohibit our involvement. I invite all members of Congress to cosponsor this resolution.' Massie is one of the few Republicans who have openly challenged Trump since his return to the presidency this year. Khanna has also long opposed unauthorised U.S. military interventions. Khanna's office told Axios that he is co-leading the resolution with Massie. Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia has introduced a parallel resolution. 'This resolution will ensure that if we decide to place our nation's men and women in uniform into harm's way, we will have a debate and vote on it in Congress,' Kaine said in a statement. Notably, the POTUS left the G7 summit in Canada a day early, citing the situation in the Middle East. 'President Trump will return to Washington tonight so he can attend to many important matters,' said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt in a statement on X. However, a White House official told CNN that Trump wasn't signalling an immediate attack, but rather 'trying to convey the urgency of the need for Iran to come to the table.' ALSO READ| US nuclear sniffer plane deployed amid Iran-Israel conflict? Here's what we know 'American Forces are maintaining their defensive posture & that has not changed. We will protect American troops and our interests,' a Pentagon spokesperson said.
Axios
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Axios
House Republican, Democrat move to limit Trump from entering Iran war
Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) plan to introduce a measure that would force President Trump to get approval to Congress to enter Israel's conflict with Iran. Why it matters: The rare bipartisan effort reflects long-running frustration among lawmakers in both parties with the executive branch's growing power to wage war unilaterally. Still, Republicans have proven largely reluctant to oppose Trump since he returned to office this year, making the war powers measure a longshot. Driving the news: "This is not our war. But if it were, Congress must decide such matters according to our Constitution," Massie said Monday in a post on X. "I'm introducing a bipartisan War Powers Resolution tomorrow to prohibit our involvement," he said. "I invite all members of Congress to cosponsor this resolution." Massie, a libertarian-minded isolationist, has been one of the few House Republicans willing to regularly break with Trump. Khanna is co-leading the measure with Massie, the progressive California Democrat's office told Axios. State of play: Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) filed his own war powers resolution in the upper chamber on Monday, which would require congressional debate and a vote to authorize U.S. entry into the Israel-Iran conflict short of defending against imminent Iranian attacks. "This resolution will ensure that if we decide to place our nation's men and women in uniform into harm's way, we will have a debate and vote on it in Congress," Kaine said in a statement. House members and senators can unilaterally force votes on war powers resolutions without support from leadership. Zoom out: Massie's announcement came as Trump left the G7 Summit early after warning Iranian civilians to "immediately evacuate Tehran," Axios' Barak Ravid reported. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said he was departing "because of what's going on in the Middle East," but did not offer further details. White House spokesperson Alex Pfeiffer denied reports that the U.S. had attacked Iran, saying that American forces "are maintaining their defensive posture, and that has not changed."
The Guardian
9 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Democrat seeks to limit Trump's war powers as Iran and Israel conflict escalates
As Iran and Israel exchange missile attacks for a fourth day, Democrats in Washington are moving swiftly to reassert congressional authority over US military engagement in the region amid fears of American involvement in a broader conflict. Senator Tim Kaine, Democrat of Virginia, on Monday introduced a war powers resolution that would prohibit US armed forces from taking direct action against Iran without explicit authorization from Congress or a declaration of war. The measure, like other attempts to claw back power from the executive branch, faces a steep climb in the GOP-controlled Congress, where Republicans have been mostly unwilling to challenge Donald Trump's authority. 'I am deeply concerned that the recent escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran could quickly pull the United States into another endless conflict,' Kaine said in a statement. 'The American people have no interest in sending service members to fight another forever war in the Middle East. This resolution will ensure that if we decide to place our nation's men and women in uniform into harm's way, we will have a debate and vote on it in Congress.' Trump on Monday said Iranian officials would 'like to talk' about de-escalating hostilities with Israel, while Israel indicated its attacks on Iran were not yet finished. Trump – along with Democrats and Republicans – have issued stark warnings to Iran not to strike US targets as it launches retaliatory attacks. 'If we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the US Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before,' Trump wrote on Truth Social. War powers resolutions are considered 'privileged' under Senate rules, guaranteeing a floor debate and vote. Even if Kaine's measure ultimately fails, it will compel lawmakers to confront pressing questions about the US role in the rapidly escalating Middle East conflict – and, more broadly, about presidential war powers and Congress's constitutional authority over decisions of war and peace. Kaine's resolution would not prevent the US from defending itself against imminent threats but would require congressional approval for offensive action. On matters of foreign policy, Trump's coalition includes Iran hawks like Senator Lindsey Graham, as well as 'America First' subscribers who share the president's longstanding opposition to US involvement in foreign conflicts. Graham on Sunday said he preferred a diplomatic solution, but barring that, he urged the president to 'go all in'. 'Make sure that, when this operation is over, there's nothing left standing in Iran regarding their nuclear program,' he said in an interview on CBS's Face the Nation. 'If that means providing bombs, provide bombs.' Kaine's move is part of a long-running effort to rein in presidential war powers, which has in the past brought together unlikely partnerships between Democrats and a growing faction of far-right anti-interventionists. During Trump's first term, Kaine led a similar effort to limit Trump's ability to strike Iran without congressional approval, following the president's decision to order the killing of Iranian Gen Qasem Soleimani, which brought the US and Iran to the brink of war. Though both chambers of Congress approved the resolution, Trump vetoed it. That veto followed an earlier one in 2019, when Trump blocked a separate bipartisan War Powers resolution aimed at ending US support for Saudi Arabia's intervention in Yemen's civil war – an effort that drew support from Democrats and a small group of anti-interventionist Republicans.
New York Times
14 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Times
Democrat Seeks to Limit Trump's War Powers Amid Middle East Escalation
Senator Tim Kaine, Democrat of Virginia, is leading a push to curb President Trump's authority to use U.S. forces to engage in hostilities against Iran, as the war between Israel and Iran raises fears of American entanglement in a broader conflict. A resolution Mr. Kaine introduced Monday would require explicit congressional authorization or a formal declaration of war before U.S. forces could take direct action against Iran. It faces long odds on Capitol Hill given Republicans' reluctance to challenge Mr. Trump's power, but it could prompt a vibrant debate as lawmakers in both parties warn against involving the United States in the escalating conflict. The measure is a direct invocation of the War Powers Resolution, a 1973 federal law intended to be a check on the president's power to enter an armed conflict without the consent of Congress. While it would still allow Mr. Trump to authorize military action in self-defense in the event of an imminent attack, it would compel him to seek approval before carrying out any offensive operations against Iran. 'It is not in our national security interest to get into a war with Iran unless that war is absolutely necessary to defend the United States,' Mr. Kaine said in a statement announcing the resolution. 'I am deeply concerned that the recent escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran could quickly pull the United States into another endless conflict.' Since Mr. Trump returned to office in January, Mr. Kaine has led a number of efforts to reassert congressional authority and reclaim power from the executive branch, whether by challenging presidential power over tariffs or scrutinizing U.S. military support for countries with troubling human rights records. His latest effort reflects growing concern among some on Capitol Hill about the risk of being dragged into a regional war without public debate or legislative approval, though some lawmakers have expressed a willingness to lend additional military support to Israel if tensions with Iran continue to escalate. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Fox News
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Senate returns amid concerns about deeper US involvement in the Iran, Israel conflict
Expect the debate about the fighting between Israel and Iran to shift to Capitol Hill in the coming hours. Congress has not been in session since bombs began dropping Thursday night. That changes today with the Senate returning to session. Bipartisan lawmakers have begun demanding answers from the administration about just "how involved" the U.S. is in the strikes and the risks it poses for the nation. Members from both parties have generally been supportive of how President Donald Trump has handled the crisis. But there are concerns about what comes next. Firstly, Trump campaigned on a platform of keeping the U.S. out of foreign entanglements. That pledge enthralled much of the MAGA base. But there is worry that certain direct – and even indirect – support for Israel could upset that coalition. This unfolds as the U.S. sends refueling tankers to Europe to be closer to the region. Secondly, many pro-MAGA voters back Israel. But the question is to what extent that involves the U.S. overseas. Lawmakers have questions, too. Is the U.S. merely supporting Israel? Or is the U.S. more involved? And if that's the case, at what point does Congress step in? The president is the commander in chief. But getting the U.S. involved in a "war" requires congressional approval under the Constitution. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., has already introduced a war powers resolution, forcing debate and a vote by the Senate ahead of the U.S. using any military force against Iran. Moreover, there is concern that U.S. action could spark the risk of domestic terrorism in the U.S. – or strikes against American military and diplomatic assets overseas. There could also be the risk of hitting "soft" targets, such as tourist hotspots, say in Europe. Multiple GOP lawmakers advised Iran and its proxies against taking action over the weekend. However, they all indicated that the U.S. would respond with force to a scenario would almost certainly draw the U.S. more deeply into the conflict if Iran forced a retaliatory strike authorized by Washington. It is said you can't be a little bit pregnant. But you can be a little bit at war. And that's what bipartisan lawmakers are trying to establish now: whether the U.S. could in fact be at war. Even if it's just a little bit.
