US House rebukes Trump as Iran war resolution clears key hurdle

The Republican-controlled US House of Representatives approved a resolution recently seeking to block President Donald Trump from continuing the war against Iran, underscoring growing concerns within his own party over a conflict that has stretched into its fourth month.

The House passed the war powers resolution by a narrow 215-208 vote, with four Republicans joining Democrats in support of the measure. The outcome marked another setback for Trump on Capitol Hill despite Republicans holding slim majorities in both the House and Senate.

The resolution remains largely symbolic for now. To take effect, it would need Senate approval and would likely face a presidential veto, requiring a two-thirds majority in both chambers to override it.

Even so, the vote signals increasing discomfort among some Republicans over Trump's handling of the conflict and represents a rare bipartisan effort to limit presidential war-making authority. The Iran war has entered its fourth month with no clear end in sight. Three previous House attempts to pass similar war powers resolutions had failed, though by progressively smaller margins.

The Senate moved forward with a separate but similar measure last month through a procedural vote after seven earlier attempts had fallen short.

The four Republicans who backed the House resolution were Tom Barrett, Warren Davidson, Brian Fitzpatrick and Thomas Massie.

No Democrats voted against the measure, although seven House members did not cast votes.

Growing resistance within Republican ranks

The vote is the latest sign of resistance Trump has faced in Congress after months of near-unanimous Republican backing for his policy agenda.

In a separate development on June 3, the House voted to advance legislation that would provide additional security assistance to Ukraine and impose new sanctions on Russia. The measure reached the House floor after a petition secured the required 218 signatures. Six Republicans and one independent lawmaker who typically votes with Republicans supported the move.

Meanwhile, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told lawmakers on June 2 that the administration was scrapping a fund intended to compensate Trump's political allies who claimed they had been targeted by government abuse, following criticism from some Republican lawmakers.

Republicans also voiced concerns on June 3 over Trump's selection of Bill Pulte, a mortgage regulator and longtime loyalist with no national security background, to serve as acting Director of National Intelligence.