Trump Declares Iran Hostilities 'Terminated' to Dodge War Powers Deadline

President Donald Trump is trying to have it both ways on the war with Iran. On the day the War Powers Resolution’s 60-day deadline hit, Trump sent a letter to Congress claiming that “hostilities have terminated” since he imposed a ceasefire on April 7. This move is a transparent attempt to sidestep the law requiring him to seek congressional authorization for military force within 60 days of hostilities.

Trump’s letter, sent to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate President Chuck Grassley, declares that since no exchange of fire has occurred since April 7, the conflict is effectively over. But this claim is dubious at best and a cynical dodge at worst. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer slammed the president’s statement on X, calling it “bulls---” and condemning the ongoing illegal war that endangers lives and fuels chaos without congressional approval.

The War Powers Resolution of 1973 was designed to check exactly this kind of executive overreach. It mandates that presidents get Congress’s green light for military action after 60 days unless Congress declares war or authorizes force. Trump, however, insists the law is unconstitutional and refuses to seek approval, arguing that no president has done so before.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified that the War Powers countdown “pauses or stops in a ceasefire,” but Senator Tim Kaine pushed back, stating the statute does not support that interpretation. Trump doubled down, saying, “Nobody’s ever asked for it before. It’s never been used before. Why should we be different?”

Meanwhile, the White House confirmed that Iran has submitted a new peace proposal through Pakistani mediators, but Trump dismissed it as unsatisfactory. He claimed Iran’s leadership is fractured and disorganized, saying, “They all want to make a deal, but they’re all messed up.” This rhetoric serves to justify continued hostility despite the purported ceasefire.

Trump’s refusal to follow the War Powers Resolution and his rejection of diplomatic overtures underline a pattern of authoritarian disregard for legal and democratic norms. By manufacturing a ceasefire to reset the clock, he attempts to wage an unauthorized war while dodging accountability to Congress and the American people.

This latest episode exposes the administration’s ongoing effort to escalate conflict abroad as a distraction from domestic scandals and to consolidate power at home. It is a stark reminder that unchecked executive power in matters of war poses grave risks to democracy and global stability.