US House rejects Trump’s Iran military campaign in rare bipartisan split

The US House of Representatives has passed a resolution seeking to halt President Donald Trump’s military action in Iran, marking the fourth legislative attempt to rein in the executive’s war powers. The measure passed by a vote of 215-208, securing approval through a rare alignment of Democratic unity and defections from the Republican bench.

The conflict, which began in February, has seen both sides exchange strikes in recent days despite the existence of a ceasefire agreement. The House vote represents a significant shift in congressional dynamics, with critics arguing that the president’s ongoing military operations lack proper congressional authorisation.

Four Republican representatives—Thomas Massie, Brian Fitzpatrick, Tom Barrett, and Warren Davidson—joined Democrats to support the resolution. Notably, Democrat Jared Golden of Maine, who had previously voted against similar measures, also backed the current proposal. The 208 representatives who voted against the measure included the majority of the Republican caucus and most Democrats.

Ahead of the vote, President Trump stated that negotiations to end the war were proceeding “very well” and could be finalised over the weekend. These comments contrasted with the ongoing military exchanges and the legislative pushback, highlighting the diverging approaches between the executive branch and a segment of Congress.

The resolution now requires approval from the US Senate, which is currently controlled by Republicans. Although the Senate passed a similar resolution in May, it must now consider the version advanced by the House. Even if the Senate approves the measure, President Trump is expected to veto it. Overriding such a veto would require a two-thirds majority in both chambers, a threshold that remains uncertain given the current political composition.