President Donald Trump on June 4 slammed lawmakers, including fellow Republicans, who voted for a war-powers resolution designed to restrict his ability to launch military action against Iran.
The measure passed the U.S. House of Representatives the previous day by a vote of 215-208, with four Republicans crossing party lines to join Democrats in securing a majority. It was the first successful passage of the resolution after three previous failures.
Writing on Truth Social, Trump said: “Who would do such an ungrateful thing?” and criticized lawmakers for approving the resolution “right in the middle of my final negotiations to end the War with Iran.”
Efforts to reach a lasting ceasefire with Iran have progressed unevenly, with the Trump administration alternating between military threats and promises of a diplomatic breakthrough. Recent talks have stalled, and both sides have conducted limited strikes.
Key sticking points include the future of Iran’s nuclear program and control of the Strait of Hormuz. The Trump administration is reported to be struggling to end Iran’s hold over the strait and seeking a nuclear deal stronger than the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), from which Trump withdrew in 2018.
Trump singled out the four Republican lawmakers who voted for the resolution: Thomas Massie (Kentucky), Tom Barrett (Michigan), Warren Davidson (Ohio) and Brian Fitzpatrick (Pennsylvania). He called them “grandstanders” and said they “should be ashamed of themselves.”
Nevertheless, the vote is largely symbolic. The resolution must still pass the Republican-controlled Senate before it can become law. Even if it does, Trump would almost certainly veto it. Overriding a veto would require a two-thirds majority in both chambers — a hurdle widely seen as insurmountable.
Still, activists welcomed the vote and urged the Senate to act similarly. David Janovsky, acting director of the Constitutional Project, emphasized: “The Constitution is clear: the sole authority to declare war rests with Congress.” He noted that the president had launched an unlawful war three months ago and called on the Senate to end it.
Others pointed to the war’s impact on the global economy, driving up fuel and commodity prices. Polls consistently show a majority of U.S. voters — and a growing number of Republicans — oppose the war. Jamal Abdi, president of the National Iranian American Council, said “the political window for this war is closing fast” as Americans reject the conflict and rising prices.
