Trump takes double whammy with Iran, Ukraine votes

Defense &National Security

Defense &National Security

Trump takes double whammy with Iran, Ukraine votes

President Trump took two hits on Wednesday with House lawmakers passing legislation designed to force him to end the Iran War, and a vote that flies against his handling of Russia’s war against the Ukraine.

House lawmakers first passed legislation on the Iran War with a 215-208 vote, with four Republicans joining every Democrat in supporting the measure. The House passage marks a victory for Democrats and the constitutional purists who say the conflict is illegal without explicit congressional approval.

The development is largely symbolic, since there are lingering disputes about whether the measure, known as a concurrent resolution, carries the force of law. And Trump is certain to contest the authority of the measure even if it’s also passed by the Senate, where it’s headed next.

Still, the vote represents a significant development in the political battle over the Iran War, putting Congress on the record condemning a conflict that has dragged on for more than three months — and rattled the global economy — with no clear end in sight.

The House then pushed through a vote on military aid for Ukraine, a blow to Trump’s withdrawal of U.S. support for Kyiv. 

The House voted 218-204 in a procedural motion that clears the way for a vote on the Ukraine Support Act, authored by Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. 

The bill, first introduced in April 2025, sat in limbo as Republicans under Trump’s direction, halted efforts to provide additional support for Ukraine. The president framed U.S. support for the country as a waste of money and launched a series of failed bids to get Russian President Vladimir Putin to end his war. 

It provides $8 billion in military financing loans to Ukraine, extends the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) through 2027, which allows for the U.S. to send Ukraine weapons directly from Pentagon stockpiles, additional sanctions against Russia, among other provisions.

Ukraine’s supporters view the vote on the Meeks bill as sending a........

© The Hill