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Why China Is Closely Watching US Congressional Support for the Iran War

Republican support for the war may not be as solid as it appears – and that could have implications for a U.S. intervention in Taiwan.

In the days following the Israeli-U.S. strikes on Iran, both chambers of the U.S. Congress – the Senate and the House of Representatives – voted on a War Powers Resolution aimed at halting U.S. President Donald Trump’s military action, which was not given congressional authorization. Although the measure failed in both chambers – with nearly all Republicans voting against it and publicly supporting the administration – a closer look suggests that Republican support for the war may not be as solid as it appears. An increasing number of Republican lawmakers are privately expressing concern. 

As Trump prepares for an upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where Taiwan will almost certainly be discussed, these underlying Republican attitudes toward U.S. military involvement abroad could shape Trump’s negotiating position. 

The War Powers Resolution was intended to block further U.S. military action in Iran without congressional approval under the 1973 War Powers Act. Had it passed both chambers, it would have represented a major challenge to Trump’s expansive view of presidential authority in foreign affairs. Republicans largely voted along party lines; Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), a co-sponsor of the resolution, was the only Republican in the Senate to support it. As a prominent voice of the New Right in American politics, Paul has long advocated for greater restraint in U.S. foreign policy.

While Paul appeared to be the lone dissenter, his concerns are quietly shared by others in the Republican caucus. Some Republican senators, despite voting against the resolution, have publicly voiced concerns about the administration’s strategy. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) warned that the Trump administration must keep lawmakers fully briefed on developments, while Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) said she is troubled by the lack of a clear endgame for the conflict.

Similarly, in the House, only two Republicans – Representatives Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Warren Davidson (R-OH) – supported the resolution. However, other Republicans reportedly harbor similar concerns but have largely chosen to express them privately.

Support for military action often swells in the early days of a conflict but tends to fade over time. The Iraq War offers a telling example: a large majority of Americans supported the invasion in its early stages, but support fell dramatically as the conflict continued. A similar dynamic may already be emerging among Republicans, many of whom remain weary after the “forever wars” in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

Trump himself acknowledged that the conflict with Iran could last weeks, which has raised concerns within the party that the United States could again be drawn into a prolonged Middle Eastern war. Representative Tim Burchett (R-TN), for instance, warned that “MAGA voters” should worry that military action in Iran might become “another forever war.” 

These concerns are also reflected in how Republican lawmakers describe the conflict. Increasingly, some have avoided calling it a “war” altogether. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has........

© The Diplomat