President Donald Trump sharply criticized lawmakers Thursday after the House of Representatives narrowly approved a resolution seeking to limit his authority to continue military operations against Iran without explicit congressional approval.
The House passed the war powers measure Wednesday by a 215-208 vote, with four Republicans joining Democrats to support the resolution. The measure would require Trump to withdraw American forces from the conflict or obtain authorization from Congress for continued military involvement, according to reports.
The vote came as the administration continued negotiations aimed at ending the war with the Islamic Republic of Iran, placing the House resolution at the center of a broader constitutional debate over the division of war-making authority between Congress and the executive branch.
Trump responded Thursday morning in a post on Truth Social, condemning the lawmakers who supported the measure and dismissing the vote as an attempt to weaken his negotiating position at a critical moment.
The House of Representatives on Wednesday adopted a resolution to curb President Trump’s Iran war powers by a vote of 215-208.
What You Need to Know is now streaming on @DisneyPlus. Stream now: https://t.co/MH3Xn1RnhQ pic.twitter.com/pZ9R2IW7bC
— ABC News (@ABC) June 4, 2026
“Yesterday, in a meaningless vote, the House voted, 4 bad Republicans and all of the Dumocrats, to limit my War Powers, right in the middle of my final negotiations to end the War with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Who would do such an unpatriotic thing,” Trump wrote.
He continued: “The Democrats are fueled by Trump Derangement Syndrome. They would rather have our Country fail than give me another, of many, victories. The four Republicans, that’s a whole other story – They’re GRANDSTANDERS! They should be ashamed of themselves.”
The White House has argued that the resolution represents an unconstitutional attempt to interfere with the president’s authority as commander in chief. Its practical effect remains uncertain because the measure is a concurrent resolution, meaning it would not require Trump’s signature even if it receives Senate approval. Any effort to enforce it could also trigger a legal challenge.
The House vote nevertheless underscores the growing unease in Congress over the scope and duration of the conflict. It marks the fourth attempt by the chamber to restrict Trump’s military authority regarding Iran. A similar proposal advanced in the Senate in May but has not yet received a full floor vote.
The Republican lawmakers who supported the House resolution were Reps. Thomas Massie, Brian Fitzpatrick, Tom Barrett of Michigan, and Warren Davidson. Rep. Jared Golden of Maine, a Democrat who opposed earlier versions of the proposal, also voted in favor of the measure.
Barrett defended his decision by framing the issue as a matter of constitutional authority rather than party loyalty.
“Congress alone declares war, that’s something certainly we need to be protective of,” Barrett said.
Asked about the possibility of political backlash from Trump, the Michigan Republican added: “I vote my conscience for what I think is right and willing to accept that.”
The resolution arrives as the administration confronts mounting domestic pressure tied to the conflict, including rising fuel prices and growing public skepticism over the extent of American involvement. Although the House vote may prove largely symbolic, it exposes an internal division within the Republican Party over the limits of presidential war powers.
[Read More: NIH Researcher Accused Of Smuggling In Deadly Disease]
