Trump says the shooting phase is over
President Donald Trump told Congress that the fight with Iran has ended, and he made that point in plain language that left little room for Washington word games. In papers sent to the House and Senate on Friday, Trump said the hostilities that began on February 28 have terminated, adding that a ceasefire ordered on April 7 has since been extended and that there has been no exchange of fire between U.S. forces and Iran since that date. In other words, the White House is arguing the conflict is over, so the usual War Powers fight is, in their view, missing the target. For folks who enjoy bureaucratic drama, this is the part where the paper trail starts talking back.
The War Powers clock becomes the next fight
The 1973 War Powers Resolution says a president is supposed to seek congressional authorization if a military conflict lasts longer than 60 days, according to NBC News. The U.S. attacked Iran on Feb. 28, and Trump notified Congress on March 2, which started the 60-day clock. But Trump is not acting like a man worried about being trapped by calendar math. He said the War Powers Act has little real-world value, argued that past presidents have ignored it, and noted that Congress has never truly enforced it the way its supporters pretend. That is classic Washington: write a rule, ignore the rule, then act shocked when someone points out the rule.
Trump says he still holds the power to act
Trump also made clear that he is not handing over his commander in chief duties to a committee of senators with warm drinks and strong opinions. In his written notice, he said that despite the success of U.S. operations against the Iranian regime, the threat from Iran to the United States and American forces remains significant. He added that he will continue to direct the Armed Forces consistent with his constitutional authority as president. When he left the White House for Florida, Trump said many presidents have gone beyond the War Powers limits, that the law has never really been used as intended, and that every other president considered it unconstitutional. Love him or hate him, he is not pretending this is a new debate.
Democrats, Hegseth, and Johnson each take their turn
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth offered a more technical take during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, saying the ceasefire means the 60-day clock pauses or stops. Senate Democrats have already failed six times to pass a War Powers resolution that would force military action in Iran to stop until Congress signs off. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Congress should watch how peace talks develop before taking steps that might box Trump in, saying lawmakers are not looking at an active bombing campaign right now and should be careful not to get ahead of sensitive negotiations. The whole thing shows a familiar truth in Washington: when the stakes are high, everyone suddenly becomes a constitutional scholar.
President Trump is apparently not going to abide by the 60-day limit for a president to get congressional approval for a war.
"Let me just tell you, on the war powers, so many presidents, as you know, have gone and exceeded it," Mr. Trump said while departing the White House for… pic.twitter.com/LRRfXwzjf7
— CBS News (@CBSNews) May 1, 2026
https://x.com/CBSNews/status/2050275602725282037
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