House OKs War Powers Resolution aimed at Trump

Nancy Pelosi, Dems want to rein in president after Iran airstrike

The U.S. House of Representatives approved a measure Thursday designed to curb any future actions President Donald Trump may take in Iran, a resolution the president called on fellow Republicans to reject.

The measure was adopted 224-194 on a largely party-line vote.

Last weekend, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Democrats would introduce a War Powers Resolution reasserting "Congress' long-established oversight responsibilities by mandating that if no further Congressional action is taken, the Administration's military hostilities with regard to Iran will cease within 30 days."

Pelosi said the resolution would be led by U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.).

On Thursday, Pelosi addressed the resolution in her weekly news conference.

Prior to Thursday afternoon’s debate and vote, Trump took to social media, asking GOP House members to fight the resolution.

The resolution is the latest battle between Trump and congressional Democrats, and comes in the wake of last week's drone strike that killed top Iranian Revolutionary Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

Democrats continue to decry the airstrike that killed Soleimani, claiming they were not briefed on any military action Trump planned to take in the Middle East.

Republicans, however, claim Trump briefed them before the airstrike was carried out.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) confirmed he had been briefed by U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper.

»RELATED: US to send 3,000 more troops to Mideast after airstrike kills Iranian general

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) also said he was given a heads-up about the possibility of a Soleimani strike — even though he's not a member of the “Gang of Eight,” which is made up of the top Democratic and Republican leaders of the Senate and the House, as well as the leaders of each chamber’s intelligence committees.

Thousands of Iranians took to Tehran streets Monday, mourning Soleimani's killing, which happened while the Iranian Revolutionary Guard was at the Baghdad airport in Iraq.

Trump Says 'American Strength Is the Best Deterrent' in Address to the Nation.President Donald Trump made the televised address from theWhite House, following Iran's missile attack upon two U.S. bases in Iraq.Before reading his written statement, Trump opened by saying the U.S. would never allow Iran to have nuclear weapons.He confirmed U.S. reports that there were no casualties — American or Iraqi — due to the attack.He also stated the attack caused "minimal damages" to the bases.The presi

More than 50 people were killed and hundreds more injured when a stampede broke out during the procession.

The original War Powers Resolution was passed in 1973 in response to U.S. activity in Vietnam.

Meanwhile, Pelosi is facing mounting pressure from within her own party to finally turn over Democrat-passed articles of impeachment against the president to the Senate.

»MORE: Trump impeachment trial could begin next week, senators say

Pelosi has delayed sending the charges over to the Senate and refused to name the House managers who would handle the trial until Senate GOP leaders meet her demands. She is demanding information from the Senate on how it plans to conduct Trump’s trial and hopes to give Democrats more leverage in calling witnesses.