In a significant political setback for President Donald Trump, the Republican-led US House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a resolution aimed at ending American involvement in the war against Iran, reflecting growing unease within the president’s own party over a conflict that has stretched into its fourth month.
The House voted 215-208 in favour of the war powers resolution, with four Republicans joining Democrats to support the measure. The resolution directs Trump to withdraw US troops from Iran unless Congress formally declares war or authorises the use of military force.
Statement from Ranking Member @RepGregoryMeeks on the passage of his War Powers Resolution terminating U.S. hostilities against Iran: pic.twitter.com/ShtZ500Jzh
— House Foreign Affairs Committee Dems (@HouseForeign) June 3, 2026
>The four Republicans who broke ranks were Representatives Tom Barrett of Michigan, Warren Davidson of Ohio, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Thomas Massie of Kentucky. No Democrats voted against the measure, while seven House members did not cast votes.
The vote marked the first time the Republican-controlled House has approved legislation seeking to force Trump to scale back military operations against Tehran since the conflict began following joint US-Israeli air strikes on Iran on February 28.
Growing Republican Unease
Although the resolution is largely symbolic for now, it represents a rare bipartisan challenge to presidential war powers and highlights increasing frustration in Congress over the administration’s handling of the conflict. The measure must still pass the Senate before it can take effect, and legal experts continue to debate whether such resolutions are constitutional.
Three previous House attempts to curb Trump’s war powers failed by narrow margins. Last month, Republican leaders even postponed a scheduled vote when it appeared likely to pass.
The Senate has also shown signs of shifting sentiment. In May, senators advanced a similar resolution in a procedural vote after several earlier efforts failed. Further action on that measure has not yet been scheduled.
The House vote came amid broader Republican resistance to several Trump initiatives. On the same day, lawmakers advanced the Ukraine Support Act and criticised Trump’s choice of Bill Pulte, a mortgage regulator with no national security background, to serve as acting director of national intelligence.
Debate Over War Powers
Democrats argue that the US Constitution grants Congress, not the president, the authority to declare war. They have repeatedly called on Trump to seek congressional approval for military action against Iran.
Lawmakers have also linked the conflict to rising prices for fuel, food and consumer goods, making economic concerns a major issue ahead of November’s midterm elections. US producer prices recorded their largest increase in four years in April as war-related costs climbed.
“The passage of this WPR today signals a significant turning point: more and more Republicans are listening to their constituents who do not want another open-ended war in the Middle East,” Representative Gregory Meeks said after the vote.
🚨BREAKING🚨
The House just PASSED @RepGregoryMeeks‘ Iran War Powers Resolution.
This is a loud and unambiguous message to Donald Trump on behalf of the American people: it’s time to end his deeply unpopular and illegal war of choice in Iran. pic.twitter.com/xhHU1djuzp
— House Foreign Affairs Committee Dems (@HouseForeign) June 3, 2026
In a separate statement, House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats declared: “This is a loud and unambiguous message to Donald Trump on behalf of the American people: it’s time to end his deeply unpopular and illegal war of choice in Iran.”
The Trump administration has defended the military campaign, arguing that it is necessary to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon and to protect US national security interests. Republican critics of the resolution dismissed it as political grandstanding designed to weaken the president.
