Leaders within the Democratic Party have committed to reinitiating efforts aimed at limiting Donald Trump’s military actions in Iran, following a series of escalating maneuvers that resulted in a temporary ceasefire on Tuesday evening.
In recent months, multiple resolutions concerning war powers have not succeeded in Congress due to the support of some Democrats for Republican positions. However, Trump’s recent aggressive statements, including a post on Truth Social warning that “a whole civilization” could be annihilated if Iran does not comply with demands, have prompted a renewed push for action.
“We must put a definitive stop to Donald Trump’s reckless military choices,” asserted Hakeem Jeffries, the House minority leader, during a CNN appearance soon after Trump announced the two-week ceasefire with Iran. “House Democrats have urged Speaker Mike Johnson to promptly reconvene the House so we can advance a war powers resolution to permanently conclude this conflict.”
Although Congress is currently in recess, Democrats in the House plan to seek unanimous consent to vote on a war powers resolution during Thursday’s pro forma session, as per a source informed about the discussions.
Maryland Representative Glenn Ivey will spearhead this initiative, inviting all members present in Washington on Thursday to participate. Nonetheless, the proposal is unlikely to pass, as any objection would prevent unanimous consent and necessitate a formal vote on the resolution.
During a press conference in New York on Wednesday, Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer stated that Democrats in the Senate would call for a vote when Congress reconvenes next week. “This war has left us in a worse position than prior to its initiation,” he remarked, highlighting the war’s financial toll and its impact on fuel prices. “This is one of the most detrimental military and foreign policy decisions in U.S. history.”
In parallel, over 70 Democrats are advocating for the invocation of the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office following his incendiary Truth Social post on Tuesday and a profane post made on Easter Sunday.
These remarks have raised concerns regarding the president’s mental stability and have led to serious worries about his potential to follow through on threats to target Iran’s vital infrastructure, which would constitute war crimes under international law.
Some lawmakers have called for his cabinet to invoke the amendment based on claims of his unfitness for office, while others have suggested impeachment and conviction as viable options.
Senator Chris Murphy from Connecticut stated on CNN Tuesday, “No rational president would publicly vow to wipe out an entire civilization. Trump appears to be steering us toward mass war crimes, a trajectory we simply cannot endorse.”
California Representative Ro Khanna expressed on X, “We must invoke the 25th Amendment and remove Trump. His threats of war crimes are a clear violation of our Constitution and the Geneva Conventions.”
Pramila Jayapal, a Democratic representative from Washington, expressed relief that Trump had not executed his threats to destroy an entire civilization, but emphasized that his “deranged threats and unlawful military actions confirm his unfitness for the presidency.”
Trump’s statements have incited outrage even among members of his previous core support base, including former representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, as well as right-wing commentators and conspiracy theorists such as Alex Jones and Candace Owens.
“25TH AMENDMENT!!!” Greene, once a staunch Trump supporter, posted on X. “No bombs have fallen on America. We cannot annihilate an entire civilization. This is pure evil and insanity.”
A small number of Republican lawmakers have voiced discomfort with threats aimed at civilian targets; however, the party as a whole has remained largely silent on the matter.
