Always expect the unexpected with Donald Trump. The President of the United States stated on Friday that he does not need the approval of Congress to continue American military engagement with Iran, just as the 60-day legal deadline imposed by the war powers act was approaching. In a letter to lawmakers, the president justified his position by stating that hostilities were now “over.”
According to the document, the White House believes the situation no longer constitutes an active conflict. “On April 7, 2026, I ordered a two-week ceasefire. The ceasefire has since been extended. There have been no exchanges of fire between US forces and Iran since April 7, 2026. The hostilities that began on February 28, 2026, are ‘over’,” wrote the president.
“Democrats are not patriots”
The legal framework, however, remains clear: the US Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war, while the 1973 War Powers Resolution authorizes the president to intervene militarily in case of emergency, provided he obtains congressional approval within 60 days. In this case, the conflict started on February 28, but official notification was only sent two days later, setting May 1 as the deadline for a congressional vote.
Since the start of operations, Democrats have tried repeatedly to restrict the president’s military powers, without success. Asked about these initiatives, Donald Trump dismissed their legitimacy: “I don’t think what they’re asking for is constitutional. Those who are asking are not patriots,” adding, “No one has ever asked for it before, so why should we?”
The situation remains unstable
This interpretation is challenged by the opposition, which believes the situation remains unstable. Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen criticized the president’s view of the conflict, stating that “President Trump’s declaration that the war in Iran is over does not reflect the reality of the tens of thousands of American soldiers in danger in the region,” also pointing out the persistent tensions and their economic consequences.
If some Republican lawmakers have hinted that they may demand formal authorization from Congress once the deadline has passed, Democrats do not currently have enough support to impose this requirement. Therefore, the executive branch still maintains a level of flexibility, despite an ongoing legal and political debate on the actual end of hostilities.
