Politics

Pelosi: Trump Cannot Strike Iran Without Congressional Approval

(Photo: MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

David Krayden Ottawa Bureau Chief
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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi insisted Friday that President Donald Trump cannot strike Iran without Congressional approval. 

Pelosi told reporters Friday that any military strike against Iran by the president “must not be initiated” without the consent of Congress. Pelosi was responding to Friday’s news that Trump had both approved and stood-down a military strike against Iran in retaliation for shooting down a United States Navy drone this week.

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - JUNE 18: U. S. President Donald Trump announces his candidacy for a second presidential term at the Amway Center on June 18th in Orlando, Florida, President Trump is set to run against a wide open Democratic field of candidates. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

U. S. President Donald Trump announces his candidacy for a second presidential term at the Amway Center on June 18th in Orlando, Florida, President Trump is set to run against a wide open Democratic field of candidates. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Pelosi said she did not know that Trump had consented to a military strike against Iran after being briefed by White House officials about the stand-off with Iran.  (RELATED: Pelosi ‘Disappointed’ Over Trump’s Deal With Mexico — ‘Threats And Temper Tantrums Are No Way To Negotiate’)

“We left with the idea that the president was going to consider some options,” Pelosi said. “I did not receive any heads-up that there was a strike that was in the works.”

“Maybe the other leaders did on the Republican side, but I did not receive any of that,” she added.

Pelosi is not alone in her belief that Trump cannot act alone. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer said Thursday that Democrats informed the president in a Situation Room meeting that he required Congressional approval before initiating a military strike against Iran. (RELATED: Rep. Omar Blames Alleged Iranian Aggression On Trump Rejecting Obama Nuclear Deal)

Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren said the same thing in a tweet as she blamed Trump for “provoking Iran’s extreme hardliners & alienating our allies.” She referenced an amendment to “the defense bill that prohibits war with Iran without Congressional approval.”

Trump tweeted Friday morning about exactly how close the United States had come to hostilities with Iran.

“We were cocked & loaded to retaliate last night on 3 different sights when I asked, how many will die. 150 people, sir, was the answer from a General. 10 minutes before the strike I stopped it, not proportionate to shooting down an unmanned drone,” Trump tweeted.

Pelosi reiterated her opinion in a statement that read “hostilities must not be initiated without the approval of Congress.”

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) reacts after signing the Taxpayer First Act on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., June 21, 2019. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) reacts after signing the Taxpayer First Act on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., June 21, 2019. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

“During our meeting with the President at the White House, Congressional Leaders stressed the necessity that we work with our allies and not strengthen the hand of Iran’s hardliners,” she said.

“We have no illusions about the dangerous conduct of the Iranian regime,” she added. “This is a dangerous, high-tension situation that requires a strong, smart and strategic approach.”

Technically, according to the provisions of the 1973 War Powers Resolution, Trump can initiate a military strike without immediately notifying Congress.

Although the legislation requires the president to consult with Congress “in every possible instance” before deploying troops into war, it grants the commander-in-chief 48 hours before telling Congress that the United State military has been sent “into hostilities or into situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances.”

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