President Donald Trump on Thursday ripped four “bad” Republicans who joined Democrats in passing legislation that effectively forces the president to end American military operations in Iran.
The House passed legislation to “remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities against Iran unless explicitly authorized” by Congress, delivering a high-profile foreign policy defeat to the president. The Senate passed similar legislation a few weeks ago.
“Yesterday, in a meaningless vote, the House voted, 4 bad Republicans and all of the Dumocrats, to limit my War Powers, right in the middle of my final negotiations to end the War with the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Trump said in a Truth Social post. “Who would do such an unpatriotic thing. They know where the negotiations stand.”
Iran backed out of negotiations with the United States on Monday, just short of a week after U.S. and Iranian negotiators agreed to extend the ceasefire for two months. On Tuesday, U.S. and Iranian forces traded “self-defense” strikes, in which the U.S. struck Qeshm Island, to which Iran responded with attacks targeting U.S. assets in Kuwait.
Still, Trump condemned the vote, backing U.S. military action as a step toward victory.
“The Democrats are fueled by Trump Derangement Syndrome,” he said in his post. “They would rather have our Country fail than give me another, of many, victories. The four Republicans, that’s a whole other story – They’re GRANDSTANDERS! They should be ashamed of themselves.”
Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Tom Barrett (R-MI), and Warren Davidson (R-OH) were the four Republicans to join Democrats. Davidson was a new addition to the GOP members who backed limiting Trump’s Iran war powers last month.
The president has already endorsed Davidson and Barrett in the midterm elections, both of whom are looking to keep their seats. Neither congressman faces any GOP challengers.
Massie had already broken from his party earlier this year and made himself an enemy of the president, which ultimately cost him reelection.
TRUMP FACES A STRING OF LOSSES AFTER RIDING HIGH OVER THE GOP
Barrett and Fitzpatrick told the Washington Examiner that they had made clear to the White House where they stand on the conflict.
The 1973 War Powers Resolution limits a president’s power to allow military action to 60 days before having to seek authorization from Congress. The law does allow the president to grant himself a one-time 30-day extension, subject to limitations on offensive operations. The Iran war has extended well past the 90-day mark.
