The war with Iran and the constraints of Congress… Trump surpasses the 60-day deadline

U.S. President Donald Trump suggested on Friday that he does not intend to seek Congress’s approval to continue any military action against Iran.

This concerns the moment when the 60-day period granted by law to the president expires before he must request authorization from lawmakers.

Trump told reporters at the White House: “I do not think what they are asking for is constitutional. Those who demand this procedure are not patriots.”

He added: “No one has ever asked for this procedure before, and no one has ever required it. So why should we do it?”

Trump considered that the implementation of the ceasefire that came into effect on April 8 had “given him more time,” which, in a way, suspended the countdown.

Under the U.S. Constitution, only Congress has the authority to “declare” war.

However, a law passed in 1973 allows the president to launch a limited military intervention in response to an emergency situation resulting from an attack on the United States.

The text of the law indicates that the president must obtain authorization from the legislative branch if troops are deployed for more than 60 days, which differs from a declaration of war.

The conflict with Iran began on February 28, but the official White House notification to Congress regarding the start of the strikes was issued only two days later.

The sixty-day deadline, after which authorization must be obtained, expires on Friday.

Since the outbreak of the war, Democrats have repeatedly attempted to pass legislation aimed at limiting Trump’s military powers against Iran, but they have not succeeded.

However, some Republican lawmakers have warned that they may, after the expiration of this period, begin demanding that the White House obtain authorization from Congress.

But in the absence of sufficient support from conservatives, Democrats have no effective means to force the government to comply with the deadline.