Trump Tells Congress Why He Doesn’t Need Its Authorization for the Iran War

President Trump informed Congress that he does not require their authorization for continued military operations in Iran, citing a Vietnam-era law. He argued that the 1973 War Powers Resolution, which mandates congressional approval for operations exceeding 60 days without authorization, does not apply because he declared a cease-fire on April 7. Trump's administration contends that hostilities ceased on that date, thus pausing the clock on the 60-day limit. However, this argument was made despite U.S. forces firing on an Iranian-flagged cargo ship on April 19. Furthermore, Trump himself later stated, "we're in a war," in remarks made in Florida. This position may not appease Republicans who view the 60-day mark as a critical point for congressional decision-making on prolonged military action. Senior Democrats also rejected the claim that the cease-fire paused the timeline, an argument previously advanced by the defense secretary.