GOP blocks Democrats’ attempt to limit Trump’s Iran war powers

Democrats unsuccessfully attempted to pass a measure limiting President Trump’s ability to conduct military operations in Iran during a pro forma session of the House on Thursday.

Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) sought recognition on the floor to pass the resolution from House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), but Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), who presided as speaker pro tempore during the session, gaveled the session out without recognizing him.

Other Democrats in attendance — Reps. Don Beyer (Va.), Sara Jacobs (Calif.), Mary Gay Scanlon (Pa.), Madeleine Dean (Pa.), James Walkinshaw (Va.), and Suhas Subramanyam (Va.) — yelled in objection.

“End the war. Let us vote,” Walkinshaw said.

“The Congress needs to consider this. The time has come,” Ivey said.

Pro forma sessions of the House typically consist of a member gaveling in and out of session and last for mere minutes, conducted for reasons related to appointments and constitutional requirements. 

While the attempt to pass the resolution by unanimous consent was expected to be unsuccessful, the move previews what will be a focus of congressional Democrats in both chambers next week as they ramp up criticism of Trump’s management of the conflict and the ceasefire deal announced Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters on the House steps after the session, Democrats called for Republican leaders to call Congress back in session to rebuke Trump for his Truth Social post Tuesday that threatened to eliminate a “whole civilization” if Iran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz.“We cannot excuse what the President said as a negotiating tactic. Threatening genocide is not a negotiating tactic. It is important that even though we were able to get this ceasefire, which I pray holds that we hold this President accountable for what he threatened,” Jacobs said.“How much farther into the dark corners of this President’s mind must we go before leaders stand up?” Dean said.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Wednesday that the Senate will again vote on a resolution to limit Trump’s war powers, and the Democrats in the House are also expected to force another vote on such a measure.

The House last voted on such a measure in early March, when it defeated a resolution that would force Trump to terminate military operations against Iran until the administration could get congressional approval. Two Republicans supported it then, while four Democrats opposed it.

Since then, three of those Democrats have expressed openness to voting for the resolution, increasing the chances that it succeeds on the House floor.

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