The upper chamber in Congress rejected a War Powers Resolution that would have required the president to get approval from the legislature before striking Iran. Last week, Donald Trump ordered the bombing of three nuclear sites in the Islamic Republic.
On Friday, the Senate narrowly voted 53-47 to reject the War Powers Resolution. Outspoken Israeli supporter Sen John Fetterman voted along with Republicans against the bill, and Sen. Rand Paul voted with Democrats seeking to constrain the President’s war-making powers.
The War Powers Resolution was introduced by Senator Tim Kaine in the days following Israel’s surprise attack on Iran. At the time, Trump said he was undecided on whether he would join Tel Aviv’s war.
Trump conducted the strikes on Iran before the Senate voted on the bill, and the White House had no authorization from Capitol Hill to attack the Islamic Republic. The lack of Congressional support makes the strikes unconstitutional.
However, Congress has allowed the President to usurp war-making powers following WWII. The Legislature has not officially declared war since the Second World War. Congress had relied on vague Authorizations for the Use of Military Force to give the President broad powers to wage war.
Trump has taken more authority to wage war at the executive’s discretion. During Trump’s first term, he vetoed a war powers resolution on Yemen and assassinated an Iranian general in Iraq.
