US President Donald Trump don hit back at lawmakers wey vote to send am rebuke over war for Iran, calling dem ‘unpatriotic’.
On Wednesday, di US House of Representatives pass measure wey dey seek to halt Trump from taking further military action amid growing opposition to di war.
For one post on Truth Social, di president write: ‘Yesterday, for one meaningless vote, di House vote, 4 bad Republicans and all of di Dumocrats, to limit my War Powers, right inside my final negotiations to end di War with di Islamic Republic of Iran. Who go do such an unpatriotic thing?’
E no clear how much legal force di House measure go get. Di White House don dismiss its merits. E also describe di move as unconstitutional attempt to restrict presidential power.
Di vote, wey pass 215-208, na to adopt di war powers resolution, wey go require Trump to withdraw US forces or seek congressional approval for di conflict. Di road to actual enforcement go involve di legislation clearing several thorny political, procedural, and legal hurdles.
Nonetheless, di vote send one unusually blunt message from Congress to di White House. ‘Dere’s a political impact, because a majority of one House of di Congress don go on record, for one actual vote, say di US armed forces need to withdraw from hostilities for di Persian Gulf,’ na so Michael Glennon, professor of constitutional and international law at Tufts University, yarn. ‘Congress dey in effect say: now, we really, really, really, really think this unlawful, and you need to get out,’ Glennon tok.
Di measure wey dem consider na concurrent resolution ā meaning say if an identical version also pass by di Republican-controlled US Senate, e no go require di president signature. And even if dat happen, e fit face legal challenge from Trump.
Meanwhile, if di Senate opt to tweak di language, e become wetin dem call joint resolution ā wey go require Trump signature. Di president go likely veto am, and Congress no get enough votes to override am.
Trump post on Thursday morning go on to say: ‘Di Democrats dey fueled by Trump Derangement Syndrome. Dem rather see our Country fail than give me another, of many, victories. Di four Republicans, dat one na whole different story ā Dem na GRANDSTANDERS! Dem suppose shame for themselves.’
Dis one na di fourth attempt by di House to rein in Trump war powers. Di Senate advance similar resolution for May but never hold full floor vote.
Some of Trump critics for Congress argue say Trump already dey violate di War Powers Resolution. Dat federal law dey prohibit di president from deploying troops for military action for more than 60 days, without Congressional approval. Trump don pass di 60-day deadline, but e administration argue say di restriction unconstitutional.
Despite dey seen as largely symbolic, di passage of Wednesday resolution add to di pressure on di White House to find end to di war, as petrol prices don spike and public opposition to di war don increase. Sixty-four percent of registered voters believe Trump wrong to go to war with Iran, compared to 34% wey believe e make di right call, according to New York Times/Siena poll wey dem take for May. Di poll suggest say support for Trump decision divide along partisan lines; 93% of Democrats believe Trump wrong, while 70% of Republicans believe Trump correct. However, 73% of independent voters ā often one bellwether group for national elections ā oppose di war, polling indicate.
Di four Republicans wey attract Trump ire na Thomas Massie, Brian Fitzpatrick, Tom Barrett, and Warren Davidson, wey join united front of Democrats. Democrat Jared Golden of Maine, wey previously vote against similar measures, give e support dis time. ‘Congress alone declare war, dat something certainly we need to dey protective of,’ Barrett, Republican from Michigan, tok. Wen dem ask if e dey worry about retribution from Trump for e vote, e say: ‘I vote my conscience for wetin I think right and willing to accept dat.’
