Trump drags GOP through Iran war

Key Points:

• Congress remains largely out of session during the ongoing 51-day Department of Homeland Security shutdown, with only brief pro forma sessions scheduled, while President Trump holds a press conference with military officials.
• Trump’s recent statements on the Iran conflict have been erratic and aggressive, including threats to bomb Iran and escalate military actions, causing concern among Democrats and some Republicans.
• Reports indicate possible ceasefire negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, brokered by Pakistani officials, but Iran continues attacks on regional targets, maintaining tensions.
• The GOP-led Congress has been largely passive on the Iran conflict, with no public hearings or scrutiny of the administration’s war strategy, relying instead on supplemental funding bills which remain stalled due to the DHS shutdown.
• Some Republicans, such as Sen. John Curtis, are beginning to express reservations about continued military funding without a formal declaration of war, signaling potential fractures within the party over the Iran conflict.