- The White House issued a sharp rebuke Thursday aimed at the House after it passed a resolution limiting his power to take further military action against Iran.
- The Housed voted in favor on the war powers resolution 224-194 - largely along party lines - on Thursday in response to President Donald Trump's decisions that led to an escalation in tensions with Iran.
- Principal Deputy Press Secretary Hogan Gidley condemned the resolution in a statement, calling it "misguided" and "ridiculous." He said it "tries to undermine the ability of the US Armed Forces to prevent terrorist activity by Iran and its proxies."
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President Donald Trump and the White House slammed lawmakers on Thursday, after the House passed a resolution aiming to limit his ability to take further military action against Iran.
The House voted in favor on the War Powers Resolution 224-194 - largely along party lines - on Thursday in response to President Donald Trump's decisions that led to an escalation in tensions with Iran. The resolution aims to bar the president from taking any new military actions against Iran without congressional approval. The resolution now goes to the Senate.
"Under the Constitution, Congress has the power to declare war and approve money for military operations, while the president is the commander in chief of the US armed forces," as Insider previously reported. "Under the War Powers Act of 1973, the president has 48 hours to inform Congress that US armed forces have been ordered to engage in operations overseas. These operations cannot last for more than 60 days without a congressional declaration of war or an authorization for use of military force (AUMF)."
"The President has the right and duty to protect this nation and our citizens from terrorism," Principal Deputy Press Secretary Hogan Gidley said, according to VOA News' Steve Herman. "That's what he continues to do, and the world is safer for it."
In the statement, Gidley condemned the "ridiculous" resolution, calling it "misguided" and saying that it "tries to undermine the ability of the US Armed Forces to prevent terrorist activity by Iran and its proxies."
The resolution is a non-binding concurrent resolution, and unlike a joint resolution, does not need to go to the president for signature. Gidley pointed out the non-binding aspect of the resolution, and called it a "political move" lacking the "force of law." An argument made by Republicans regarding the resolution.
Trump himself responded to the vote at a campaign rally in Toledo, Ohio.
"They're saying, 'You should get permission from Congress, you should come in and tell us what you want to do - you should come in and tell us, so that we can call up the fake news that's back there, and we can leak it,'" Trump claimed, according to Fox News. "Lot of corruption back there."
Shortly after a rally, Trump tweeted: "Under my administration, we will NEVER make excuses for America's enemies - we will never hesitate in defending American lives - and we will never stop working to defeat Radical Islamic Terrorism!"
Trump has faced increased backlash for his decision to kill Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The president authorized the attack on Iran's top general without informing Congress.
Days after Soleimani's death, Iran sent missile strikes on two bases housing US and coalition forces in Iraq in apparent retaliation.
Eight Democrats voted against the House's resolution, while three Republicans supported it - including Trump ally Rep. Matt Gaetz.
"I represent more troops than any other member of this body," Gaetz said, adding, "I buried one of them earlier today at Arlington. That sergeant died a patriot and a hero. If the members of our armed services have the courage to go and fight and die in these wars, as Congress, we ought to have the courage to vote for or against them."
- Read more:
- Trump ally and GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz comes out in strong support of a war-powers resolution limiting Trump's power to take military action against Iran
- House votes to bar Trump from attacking Iran without congressional authorization
- Most Americans feel less safe and want Congress to limit Trump's war powers after he killed Iran's top general