Trump wrote a letter to Congress. He announced the “end” of the war with Iran
The White House presented its justification in a letter to congressmen, obtained by POLITICO. Friday marked 60 days from the deadline under which operations in the Middle East must be halted unless lawmakers authorize further hostilities.
Trump, however, argues that the truce stopped counting days of the ongoing war. “There have been no exchanges of fire between the United States and Iran since April 7, 2026.” Trump wrote, noting the ceasefire he extended indefinitely. “The hostilities that began on February 28, 2026 have ended.” – reads a fragment of the letter.
Donald Trump is starting to irritate even Republicans
Currently, Trump faces the prospect of losing the support of Republicans who question the point of a war that has been going on for two months with no end in sight.
However, the letter did not help, because Democrats and some Republicans will not like the White House's argument, who say the administration must end its operation in the Middle East after it has failed to achieve its goals so far. The letter also came amid an impasse in talks and the ongoing military blockade of Iranian ports by American forces.
The president told reporters before leaving the White House for Florida on Friday that he had presented a “final proposal” to Iran but expressed pessimism about reaching an agreement with that country's “fragmented” government.
This position was also presented a day earlier by Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth. He explained that war does not include days on which there is a truce.
The War Powers Resolution of 1973 provides that if Congress does not authorize hostilities within 60 days, the operation must be terminated. The White House may seek to extend military operations for another 30 days to end the conflict.
“This deadline is not a suggestion; it is a requirement”
Susan Collins of Maine became the first Republican senator to change her position since the war began in February and indicate that she would not support continuing the war beyond the deadline to which it could legally last. “This deadline is not a suggestion; it is a requirement” Collins said in a statement.
The failed vote signaled that Trump's support for war among Republicans may begin to wane – especially in a society that largely wants it to end.
Supporters of limiting Trump's power, relying on the 1973 resolution, claim that he incorrectly interprets the provisions of the act. Some people point out that despite the truce in force, American armed forces are still involved in the blockade of Iranian ports, and there are approximately 50,000 people in the Middle East region. US soldiers.
On Friday, Trump suggested that the requirements contained in the War Powers Resolution were unconstitutional and added that no previous president had implemented them. Pentagon representatives said that American forces remain ready to resume attacks on Iran in the event of a breakdown in peace talks.
Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine on Thursday said that the idea of the White House declaring the end of the war without withdrawing troops from the region “is simply wrong.” He added that Republicans must join Democrats to hold the administration accountable.
“I hope they hear enough from their constituents about how unpopular this war is and that it is simply not an excuse to send our sons and daughters [tam]to risk their lives (…) and start voting in accordance with the constitutional oath they took,” he emphasized.
