President Donald Trump is officially on the clock among Senate Republicans to wind down his military campaign against Iran. This comes even as Trump has launched a new naval blockade of Iran and is considering launching more military strikes unless a peace deal is reached.
From the Republican leadership to the rank-and-file, GOP senators say they’re eager for the White House to find an off-ramp as political and economic fallout from the war is mounting. Particularly, skyrocketing gas prices and the danger it poses for Republicans in the looming midterm elections.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune on Monday pointed to several “inflection points” in the coming weeks that could ramp up pressure on the Trump administration. This includes a potential Pentagon funding vote, as well as debate over Democratic-forced war powers resolutions and the upcoming 60-day deadline mandated under the War Powers Act.
“I think people are going to be looking for signs of progress,” Thune told us, adding that the “permanent” reopening of the Strait of Hormuz should be the priority. The U.S. military operations against Iran “have been very effective and successful, but… they need a plan for how to wind this down, how to get an outcome.”
The South Dakota Republican described the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports as a way to put economic pressure on the Islamic Republic to return to the negotiating table after failed peace talks in Pakistan over the weekend.
But Thune acknowledged the economic pain being felt here at home, too, especially in his agriculture-reliant home state. Much of the world’s fertilizer passes through the Strait of Hormuz.
“It’s a big deal,” Thune said. “We’re in planting season. So if you didn’t buy fertilizer ahead of time, you’re really feeling it. And obviously, fuel is a critically important part of production [in] agriculture.”
War powers push. Senate Democrats will again force a vote this week on an Iran war powers resolution likely Wednesday or Thursday, according to Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.). The Senate rejected the last three war powers resolutions on 47-53 votes and, despite the turbulent news cycle, it doesn’t look like that will change this week.
Instead for some Republicans, the real political clash over the war is still looming. Its trigger point is the deadline for Trump to seek congressional approval for a conflict that lasts beyond 60 days.
“The 60-day target is what I’m looking at,” Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) told reporters. That deadline is less than three weeks away.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) has already begun drafting a formal authorization for the Iran conflict, but Democrats appear reluctant to support such a move. It’s also not clear how many Republicans would back it.
This isn’t a vote that Republicans want to make, fearing backlash in November if they back an unpopular war that’s exacerbating the affordability problems nationwide.
Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah), who previously announced he wouldn’t support extended military action without a declaration of war, said the exact mechanism for congressional action remains “to be determined.”
Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) said that “they should” seek congressional authorization after 60 days, referring to the White House. “It’s the law,” Lankford added.
Thune demurred when asked about an AUMF vote at the 60-day marker, saying Trump can trigger a unilateral extension for 30 days. While presidents can extend operations beyond that 60-day window without congressional sign-off, the law requires that lawmakers be notified in writing of continued military action.
Dems double down. Senate Democrats, meanwhile, are leaning into their strategy of forcing war powers votes, vowing to compel weekly debates on the conflict. Senators announced Monday that they’ll be introducing six more resolutions, which will ripen in the coming weeks.
“Until this president is reined in, we will continue to force these votes,” Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), flanked by a group of 10 other Senate Democrats, said Monday night.
