Trump tells Congress Iran hostilities terminated at war powers deadline
President Donald Trump told Congress on Friday that hostilities in Iran have “ended” since he declared an extended two-week ceasefire on April 7.
Trump’s claim falls within the deadline under the 1973 War Powers Resolution to ask Congress to formally declare war on Iran or authorize the use of military force against that country.
Friday marks 60 days since the war began in late February. Under the War Powers Resolution, a president must obtain authorization for military force from Congress within 60 days of the start of hostilities.
Congress did not allow US military intervention against Iran. Trump’s letters to congressional leaders on Friday are a barrage aimed at deterring lawmakers in Congress from restricting military action against Iran.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, DY send to x On Friday, he called the president’s claim “bulls—.”
“This is an illegal war, and every day Republicans remain complicit and allow it to continue is another day when lives are endangered, chaos erupts, and prices soar—and Americans are footing the bill,” Schumer wrote.
Trump claimed early Friday that the War Powers Resolution was unconstitutional, saying he would not ask Congress for authorization.
Trump, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. “There has been no conflict between U.S. Forces and Iran since April 7, 2026,” he wrote in separate letters addressed to Senate President Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa.
“The hostilities that began on February 28, 2026 have ended,” Trump wrote.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday that he believes the countdown clock “will pause or pause at the ceasefire.”
You. “I don’t believe the law would support this,” Tim Kaine told Hegseth.
When Trump was asked at the White House on Friday about asking Congress for authorization for military force against Iran, he said he would not do so because “no other president has ever been asked to do something like this before.”
“It’s happened many, many, many times and no one has ever gotten this before. They think it’s totally unconstitutional, but we’re in communication with Congress all the time, but no one’s ever called for this before,” Trump said.
“Nobody’s asked for this before. It’s never been used before. Why should we be any different?”
Trump also said he was unhappy with Iran’s new offer to end its war with the United States and Israel.
“Iran wants to make a deal, but I’m not happy with it,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “Iran wants to make a deal because it has no soldiers left.”
Asked why he was unhappy with Iran’s latest offer, Trump said: “They want things I can’t accept.”
Earlier on Friday, before Trump spoke, Pakistani officials mediating peace talks between the US and Iran in Islamabad confirmed to MS NOW that Iran had sent them an updated proposal to end the war, which they had sent to American officials.
Speaking at the White House, Trump said Iran was “making progress” in negotiations with the United States, but “I’m not sure they can get to that point.”
The president said there was a “tremendous disagreement” among Iranian leaders that was complicating the peace process.
“They’re having a big problem getting along with each other,” Trump said. “The leadership in Iran is very disjointed. There are two or three groups, maybe four, and it’s a very disjointed leadership.”
“And yet they all want to make a deal, but they’re all screwed,” he said.
