House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) indicated Tuesday that he believes the conflict with Iran should be brought to an end, telling reporters, “we’ve got to wrap it up,” as questions continue to mount over the length of the military campaign and Congress’ role in overseeing it.
Johnson made the remarks during a Capitol Hill press conference after being pressed on whether he would use Congress’ constitutional authority to place limits on President Donald Trump’s handling of the war. His comments came as political observers have warned that the prolonged conflict could present additional political challenges for Republicans as they seek to maintain their congressional majorities.
The speaker’s statement also appeared to contrast with comments made earlier Tuesday by President Trump, who said the United States would continue bombing Iran until the regime returns to negotiations in good faith.
During the exchange, an off-camera reporter referenced Johnson’s previous expressions of confidence in the administration’s handling of the war while noting that the conflict has now stretched into its fifth month and that U.S. troop fatalities have surpassed those recorded during the withdrawal from Afghanistan.
The reporter asked Johnson at what point he would consider allowing a vote on an Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) or supporting a resolution under the War Powers Act aimed at limiting the administration’s military campaign.
Johnson responded by expressing confidence in the president and his national security team while arguing that Congress should not move forward with an AUMF at this time.
“The administration is working very hard — the commander-in-chief and the whole Department of War — they’re working very hard to bring this to a resolution,” Johnson said. He added that discussions are ongoing about how the conflict will ultimately be resolved and emphasized that lawmakers are closely monitoring those developments.
“I don’t think an AUMF is in order right now,” Johnson said. “I think we need to bring it to a resolution.”
The Louisiana Republican also argued that resolving the conflict should not fall solely on the United States. Instead, he said America’s allies and partners should shoulder responsibility alongside Washington.
Johnson pointed to NATO members, Arab nations, and Gulf states located closest to Iran, saying the broader international community has a stake in the outcome.
According to Johnson, Iran has now fired on all of its neighboring countries, creating a situation that affects nations far beyond the United States. He said the current moment presents an opportunity for the international community to determine how it intends to respond collectively.
“It shouldn’t just be America’s obligation,” Johnson said, adding that “everybody needs to play a role.”
Johnson also said the administration is working continuously to find a resolution that prevents additional American troop losses. Calling those deaths “a great tragedy,” he nevertheless argued that preventing what he described as the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism from obtaining a nuclear weapon remains a critical objective.
Johnson said such an outcome “would be a disaster for everybody” and argued that nations around the world recognize the importance of preventing it.
Despite reiterating support for the administration’s approach and opposing immediate congressional action to restrict the military operation, Johnson concluded his remarks with a brief but notable message on the future of the conflict.
“Now we’ve got to wrap it up,” he said.
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