https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-congressional-authorization-iran-military-operation-war-powers-rcna343094Trump told reporters he considers seeking congressional authorization under the War Powers Act "unconstitutional" and falsely claimed other presidents had not done so.President Donald Trump on Friday sent letters to Congress explaining that, due to the ceasefire, he doesn't need its authorization for military operations in Iran, even though the conflict hit the 60-day mark this week."On April 7, 2026, I ordered a two-week ceasefire. The ceasefire has since been extended. There has been no exchange of fire between the United States Forces and Iran since April 7, 2026. The hostilities that began on February 28, 2026, have terminated," Trump wrote in the letters, one of which went to the House and one of which went to the Senate."Despite the success of United States operations against the Iranian regime and continued efforts to secure a lasting peace, the threat posed by Iran to the United States and our Armed Forces remains significant," the president added in the letter, promising to keep congressional leaders updated on further developments in Iran.The letters come as congressional leaders this week faced mounting questions about whether they planned to schedule votes on a formal war authorization from Congress.The 1973 War Powers Resolution directs the president to seek authorization for war from Congress after an ongoing military conflict hits the 60-day threshold. The law allows for a president to seek a 30-day extension if necessary to safely remove troops from the region, but Trump did not mention that in his letter."I have and will continue to direct United States Armed Forces consistent with my responsibilities and pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct United States foreign relations and as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive," the president wrote in his letter.
The U.S. military strikes on Iran officially began on Feb. 28, but the Trump administration notified Congress of the conflict on March 2, starting the 60-day clock then.A temporary ceasefire went into effect on April 8 to allow the U.S. and Iran room to negotiate an end to the war and to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but talks have not produced results.Iran has blocked traffic in the Strait. The US has a naval blockade of the Iranian ports and is using more than 100 fighter and surveillance aircraft, two carrier strike groups, and more than one dozen ships to enforce the blockade. A Navy destroyer fired on and hit an Iranian-flagged cargo that attempted to move through the blockade.As he departed the White House on Friday heading to Florida, the president also told reporters that he wasn't seeking authorization from Congress, "because it’s never been sought before.""There’s been numerous, many, many times, and nobody’s ever gotten it before. They consider it totally unconstitutional, but we’re always in touch with Congress, but nobody’s ever sought it before. Nobody’s ever asked for it before. It’s never been used before. Why should we be different?" he said in response to NBC News.In the past, other presidents have also argued that they don't need congressional authorization for certain military engagements.In 2011, then-President Barack Obama argued against seeking congressional approval for a military operation in Libya, with his administration saying, "U.S. operations do not involve sustained fighting or active exchanges of fire with hostile forces, nor do they involve U.S. ground troops."But then-Presidents George W. Bush in 2001 and 2002 and George H.W. Bush in 1991 did seek congressional authorization for military conflicts in the Middle East and in those cases, lawmakers approved their requests.Congress last year repealed the 2002 and 1991 authorizations for use of military force as part of the Pentagon's annual spending package.
On Thursday, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., argued that Congress wouldn't have to formally weigh in on the military conflict with Iran, telling NBC News, "we're not at war."Johnson made a similar point to Trump's argument about the ceasefire, saying, "I don’t think we have an active, kinetic military bombing, firing or anything like that. Right now, we are trying to broker a peace."Later Thursday, in a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also dismissed the 60-day threshold, telling lawmakers, "I would defer to the White House and White House counsel on that. However, we are in a ceasefire right now, which, our understanding, means the 60-day clock pauses or stops in a ceasefire."
>>1511150There’s no ceasefire. The US broke the ceasefire with the blockade, a blockade is an act of war. Not even to mention the Israelis broke both of the ceasefires in and with Lebanon
>>1511151>Iran has blocked traffic in the Strait. The US has a naval blockade of the Iranian ports and is using more than 100 fighter and surveillance aircraft, two carrier strike groups, and more than one dozen ships to enforce the blockade. A Navy destroyer fired on and hit an Iranian-flagged cargo that attempted to move through the blockade.The US imposed this blockade after Iran had agreed to allow passage for all shipping, it should be noted
>>1511150>On April 7, 2026, I ordered a two-week ceasefire. The ceasefire has since been extended. There has been no exchange of fire between the United States Forces and Iran since April 7, 2026. The hostilities that began on February 28, 2026, have terminatedBut we're still deployed to the area. So shut the fuck up Donny; either pull troops back or admit you broke the constitution. Again.
If congress refuses to do their job and lets the preisdent act like a king, why doesn't the fucking senate remove them?
Trump is correct on this one. Congress hasn't declared war in over 80 years. They fund whatever the president wants to do when it comes to foreign conflicts, and this crosses party lines most of the time.AIPAC is the only party that matters in DC
>>1511158Senate is part of Congress, ese
>>1511157If there’s a blockade there’s no ceasefire. The Iranians are perfectly within their rights to fire upon any US ship attempting to interdict any vessel
>nuh uh, it’s not a war anymore. we’re just there blowing shit up and acting like ducks now. not the same thing
>>1511161Except every other war followed the war powers act in that congress approved before 60 days were up.
If they don't stop him, then he is correct. Laws are just words on paper.
>>1511158>>15111621. Senate is half of congress.2. Republicans, the party that trump fully controls, runs both the Senate and congress.This is where checks and balances fail and you should never fall for saying republicans are the party of peace since they are the biggest war mongers.
>>1511150>The US has a naval blockade of the Iranian ports and is using more than 100 fighter and surveillance aircraft, two carrier strike groups, and more than one dozen ships to enforce the blockade.Wow all that for a country that, according to Trump, has had their military completely anihilated and is begging him for a ceasefire. Imagine what we would need if they were still a threat to us?
>>1511167That’s incorrect. If congress allow him to pursue this war - and it is an ongoing war whether there’s a ceasefire in place (there isn’t) or not, a ceasefire does not end a conflict - congress will be at fault for not upholding their own purpose, for not being a balance of power, and for not representing the overwhelming majority of American people who do not support this war
>>1511150can he bring back some oil for me too i'm tired of paying these inflated prices
>>1511167which begs the question, if your platform is "law and order" and laws are irrelevant, what do you really stand for?
>>15112041) get attention2) make money3) stay out of prisonThese are the only goals that Trump ever had and Congress can stop pretending otherwise.
>>1511204order presumably
>>1511207>>15112074)Be remembered(create a legacy) build statues to himself, ballrooms, etc buildings, named after himself5)POTUS perks{fly around in your own personal jet(,for free)} free McDonald's, etc 6) revenge, lawfare, Let them eat FAKE
>>1511150Great. He’s wrong.
>>1511204They stand for laws that they like when it's convenient. This includes law of the jungle.
