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The War That Wasn’t Over: Trump’s Airstrikes and the Congressional Deadlock

By the first week of May—exactly two months after the U.S. and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran—the White House declared the fighting "over." Officially, they called it a terminated conflict. But was it really?

The 60-Day Deadline and the War Powers Resolution

Congress had a deadline to receive updates under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, a law designed to prevent presidents from waging prolonged wars in secrecy. After 60 days, a president must either:

• Pull troops,
• Secure congressional approval, or
• Claim urgent military necessity to extend the conflict by another 30 days.

Yet Iran’s response—via mediators in Pakistan—offered a new proposal for peaceful talks. Democrats, however, remained unconvinced. Senator Jeanne Shaheen argued the situation crossed a "legal threshold" Trump ignored, accusing him of having "no real plan beyond endless strikes and sanctions."

The Human and Economic Toll

While Washington debated, the war had already exacted a devastating price:

• Thousands of lives lost
• Billions in damages
• Global market tremors
• Rising domestic prices, fueling voter frustration ahead of the November elections

Polls showed Trump’s approval rating plummeting to its lowest point since taking office. Yet his Republican allies in Congress refused to allow a vote to end the conflict.

The Constitutional Loophole: Who Really Controls War?

The Constitution grants Congress the sole power to declare war—yet presidents have long bypassed this for quick military action. Since 1973, leaders have exploited loopholes like the 60-day rule to wage undeclared wars indefinitely.

The Vietnam War, fought without congressional backing, remains a cautionary tale of how executive overreach can prolong conflict.

Now, Trump holds the power to reignite the bombings at any time. Each new strike would reset the 60-day countdown, allowing him to evade oversight indefinitely.

A chilling question lingers: Who truly controls America’s military decisions?