Republicans Block Resolution Limiting Trump’s War Powers; Democrats Intensify Pressure, Threatening Impeachment
The Republican-controlled House of Representatives blocked a Democratic-led resolution on the 9th aimed at limiting the president's war powers, thereby allowing President Trump to maintain the ability to take military action against Iran without explicit congressional authorization.
On Thursday, the House held a procedural session (pro forma session) briefly, presided over by Republican Congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey. Before Democratic lawmakers could even introduce a "unanimous consent" motion, Smith quickly adjourned the session, effectively killing the war powers resolution led by Maryland Democratic Representative Glenn Ivey.
The resolution sought to end U.S. military conflict with Iran and required that any future military actions by the president must first receive congressional approval. After the meeting, Ivey stated: "Congress needs to deliberate on this. The time has come." However, Republicans successfully used procedural tactics to prevent the bill from entering substantive debate.
The current controversy stems from the Trump administration's recent military moves against Iran and its increasingly aggressive rhetoric. Earlier this week, Trump warned that if Iran did not reopen the strait of Hormuz, which remains blockaded, it would face devastating strikes on its civilian infrastructure—going so far as to claim "the entire civilization would die." Such statements provoked strong backlash from Democrats and raised concerns about potential violations of international humanitarian law.
California Democratic Representative Sara Jacobs said outside the Capitol: "Threatening genocide is not a negotiating tactic." She and several other Democratic lawmakers are demanding stricter oversight of the president’s conduct.
Despite this, the White House maintains that the president’s actions are lawful. The administration argues that as Commander-in-Chief, Trump has the authority to order limited military operations in response to threats to national security. A White House spokesperson defended the president’s remarks, asserting that tough language helped push Iran toward ceasefire and agreement to resume shipping.
Diplomatically, the Trump administration claims to have achieved a "decisive victory" in U.S.-Israel military operations against Iran and announced a two-week truce on the 8th. However, senior U.S. military officials noted that forces remain ready to resume combat at any moment, indicating the situation remains highly unstable.
At the congressional level, Democratic leaders continue pressuring for a reconvening vote. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wrote to colleagues stating: "A two-week ceasefire is far from sufficient. Therefore, we demand the House immediately reconvene to vote on a permanent resolution ending the Middle East war."
In the Senate, similar efforts are underway. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats will push for a fourth vote on a war powers resolution next week and criticized this military campaign as "one of the worst military and foreign policy actions in American history."
In fact, since the conflict erupted in February, Democrats have repeatedly attempted to restrict Trump’s military authority over Iran and Venezuela—but each effort was blocked by Republicans. With Republicans holding slim majorities in both chambers and largely supporting the president’s policies, such legislation faces significant hurdles. Even if Congress passes a resolution, Trump retains the power to veto it.
Constitutionally, the U.S. Constitution grants Congress the power to declare war, but allows the president considerable discretion in cases of short-term military actions or emergency threats. This ambiguous gray area has long been at the heart of the ongoing struggle between executive and legislative branches.
Beyond politics, Trump’s hardline rhetoric has also sparked internal Democratic discussions about whether to pursue impeachment or invoke the 25th Amendment. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (New York) stated: "Regardless of whether it's through the cabinet or Congress, the president must be removed. We are at the edge."
Massachusetts Representative Seth Moulton added: "Whether or not there is a temporary ceasefire, Trump has committed acts that could be grounds for impeachment. Congress must act immediately to remove him before he causes further damage."
However, under Republican control of Congress, the likelihood of successful impeachment remains widely considered extremely low. Democratic leadership currently favors prioritizing legislative measures to constrain presidential military power rather than immediately launching an impeachment process.
Meanwhile, pressure from constituents is mounting rapidly. Several lawmakers reported receiving a flood of phone calls and emails expressing concern over escalating war tensions and the president’s inflammatory rhetoric. Some congressional offices reportedly received hundreds of voice messages within a short timeframe, underscoring widespread public anxiety about the situation.
Source: rfi
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1862055976001548/
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