Donald Trump Statements and Threats

House Democrats are pressing a new Iran War Powers vote after Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) publicly urged the House to force a measure that would require President Trump to withdraw U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran unless Congress issues a formal declaration of war, allowing only defensive actions in the meantime. Ivey framed the push around both strategy and cost: he said the Iran campaign has already cost roughly $54 billion and coincided with U.S. retail gasoline prices rising by more than $1 per gallon. The renewed effort comes as Congress returns from recess amid an administration that imposed a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz and after explosive presidential threats — including explicit warnings to strike Iranian power plants and bridges and a Tuesday deadline for reopening the strait — which many lawmakers and outside observers have said raise legal and humanitarian concerns.