Trump Blocks Congress from Taking Control of Iran Decisions

President Trump on Wednesday vetoed a bogus attempt by lawmakers to require Congressional approval for military action in Iran.

The resolution cleared the House with a vote of 227-186 and passed through the Senate with a vote of 55-45. Senators attempted to override Trump’s veto Thursday, but failed to gather the necessary votes. The final vote was 49-44, with seven Republican Senators joining Democrats.

“This was a very insulting resolution, introduced by Democrats as part of a strategy to win an election on November 3rd by dividing the Republican Party,” said President Trump. “The few Republicans who voted for it played right into their hands.”

Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) introduced the measure following a Trump-ordered attack that killed Iranian military commander Major General Qassem Soleimani in January. Trump did not consult Congress before ordering the attack.

Iran responded with a ballistic missile attack on two bases in Iraq where US troops were present. No Americans were killed, but several suffered traumatic brain injuries.

“Unless there’s a carefully reached consensus in Congress that war is necessary, we should not be sending our troops into harm’s way,” said Kaine, adding that he was “shocked” that Trump believed the proposal had anything to do with the election. 

In his defense, Trump said the attack on Soleimani was perfectly legal based on a 2002 authorization for the use of military force in Iran as well as Article II of the Constitution, which outlines presidential powers. 

“The resolution implies that the president’s constitutional authority to use military force is limited to defense of the United States and its forces against imminent attack,” said Trump. “That is incorrect…We live in a hostile world of evolving threats, and the Constitution recognizes that the president must be able to anticipate our adversaries’ next moves and take swift and decisive action in response. That’s what I did!”