BRIC Team reports: Susan Collins – who is facing a tough re-election battle in Maine – voted for the resolution for the second time.Rand Paul, a Kentucky libertarian who has consistently voted to curb the president’s war authorities, was the third to vote for the resolution. Trump never sought congressional authorisation to go to attack Iran, although the US Constitution gives lawmakers the sole authority to declare war.Since the start of the conflict, Democrats have repeatedly put forward bills under the War Powers Resolution of 1973 to limit Trump’s authority to order the US military into hostilities without authorisation from Congress.The law was passed in the wake of the Vietnam War to curb what was seen at that time as executive overreach to take the US to war.
Advertisement Senator Tim Kaine, one of the Democrats leading the efforts to advance the vote, underscored the “progress” in Wednesday’s vote.“My colleagues and I have been forcing votes to stop the war against Iran – and we’re making progress,” Kaine wrote on X. “Today, our War Powers Resolution got 49 votes. My colleagues are hearing more and more from their constituents: end this costly and unnecessary war.”Such bills are unlikely to pass in the Republican-controlled Senate and House of Representatives and would almost certainly be vetoed by Trump if they are approved.
Background
Still, the votes put pressure on Republicans to make their position on an increasingly unpopular war known on the record.A Reuters/Ipsos poll released earlier this week suggested that two-thirds of US voters do not think Trump has clearly explained why the country has gone to war with Iran.Trump has blocked the Strait of Hormuz in response to US and Israeli attacks, sending oil prices soaring.Despite the ceasefire that came into effect last month, the Iranian blockade continues absent of a comprehensive deal to end the war. A US naval siege in Iran has worsened the energy crisis. The average price of one gallon of petrol in the US has surpassed $4.50 ($1.18 per litre), up from less than $3 ($0.78 per litre) before the war.
Key facts
- “Today, our War Powers Resolution got 49 votes.
- A US naval siege in Iran has worsened the energy crisis.
- The average price of one gallon of petrol in the US has surpassed $4.50 ($1.18 per litre), up from less than $3 ($0.78 per litre) before the war.
What this means
That spike has fuelled inflation overall in the US economy.On Tuesday, before he departed for China, a reporter asked Trump whether the financial situation of Americans would factor into his negotiations to end the war with Iran.“Not even a little bit,” Trump said. “The only thing that matters when I’m talking about Iran: They can’t have a nuclear weapon. I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation.
I don’t think about anybody.”Trump’s comments sparked criticism from his rivals, but US Vice President JD Vance said on Wednesday that there was a “misrepresentation” of the president’s remark.“Of course, the president and I, and the entire team, we care about the American people’s financial situations,” he said.Iran has repeatedly denied seeking a nuclear weapon, and Trump’s own intelligence chief, Tulsi Gabbard, told lawmakers last year that Tehran is not building one.
