Can Congress limit Trump in Iran? It would be a rare step
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- Throughout Donald Trump’s second presidency, Congress debated his military authority, particularly regarding actions in Latin America and the Middle East, with recent Senate votes failing to limit his power in conflicts involving Iran and Venezuela.
- The U.S. Constitution divides war powers between Congress, which has the authority to declare war and control military budgets, and the president, who serves as commander in chief; however, since World War II, no formal war declarations have been made despite numerous military engagements.
- Historical precedents show presidents increasingly asserting military authority without formal declarations of war, such as Truman’s Korean War “police action,” Johnson’s Gulf of Tonkin Resolution for Vietnam, and Bush’s post-9/11 Authorization for Use of Military Force, often leading to
