Congress splits on war powers resolutions to force Trump to abandon Iran war

The US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, July 22, 2026. Aaron Schwartz | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesCongress on Thursday split on advancing a pair of war powers resolutions aimed at forcing President Donald Trump to abandon his war with Iran, as the conflict escalates into a deadly new phase and oil tops $100 a barrel. The moves were the first vote since Trump informed Congress that he restarted the war with Iran following the breakdown of peace negotiations. The conflict's revival after weeks of a shaky ceasefire comes just months before the U.S. midterm elections. It threatens to scramble the majority Republicans' plan to maintain their razor-thin majorities. The Senate on Thursday voted 47-49 to kill a joint resolution under the War Powers Act to force Trump to end hostilities in Iran. It was the first vote in the Senate aimed at ending the war since Trump told Congress he was reinitiating the conflict.Even if Congress does try to force Trump to withdraw, he would be almost certain to veto anything that reaches his desk."There is no good way out of a bad war," said Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., who offered the resolution in the Senate. "This is an opportunity for this Co...