President Donald Trump has lashed out at lawmakers following a House vote calling for the withdrawal of American forces from the conflict with Iran, describing the move as “unpatriotic” and accusing critics of undermining ongoing diplomatic efforts.
In a post on his Truth Social platform on Thursday, Trump said the vote came at a critical stage of negotiations aimed at ending hostilities with Tehran.
“The vote happened right in the middle of my final negotiations to end the war with the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Trump wrote. “Who would do such an unpatriotic thing? They know where the negotiations stand.”
The measure passed the House on Wednesday by a narrow 215-208 margin and will now move to the Senate for consideration.
In a notable development, four Republican lawmakers broke ranks with their party and joined Democrats in supporting the resolution, marking one of the most significant congressional challenges to Trump’s handling of the Iran conflict since military operations began three months ago.
The resolution seeks to compel the administration to withdraw U.S. forces from the conflict, although its chances of becoming law remain slim as it would likely face a presidential veto.
Democrats argue that Trump violated constitutional limits on presidential war powers by authorising military strikes against Iran alongside Israel in late February without seeking approval from Congress.
They also point to the War Powers Act, which requires presidents to obtain congressional authorization within 60 days of introducing American forces into hostilities. According to critics, that deadline has already passed.
The dispute has intensified an ongoing debate in Washington over executive authority in military conflicts and Congress’s constitutional role in authorising war.
Reacting to the vote, Trump accused Democrats of placing politics above national interests.
“They would rather have our country fail than give me another victory,” he said.
The president also reserved criticism for the four Republicans who backed the measure, dismissing them as “grandstanders” and saying they should be ashamed of their actions.
The vote highlights growing divisions within Congress over the administration’s military strategy and could set the stage for a broader confrontation between the White House and lawmakers as the Iran conflict continues.
