Donald Trump: Trump administration claims Iran ceasefire ‘terminates’ hostilities ahead of US Congress’ 60-day deadline

President of the United States Donald TrumpThe U.S. government has claimed that the United States is “not at war” with Iran, even though the conflict has reached a key legal threshold under the War Powers Resolution, setting up a potential confrontation between the White House and Congress.House Speaker Mike Johnson said Thursday that congressional authorization was not needed at this stage and that he did not believe the United States was engaged in active hostilities.“I don’t think we’re engaging in active, dynamic military bombing or shooting or anything like that. Right now, we’re trying to make peace,” Johnson told NBC News at the Capitol.When asked about the 60-day deadline set by the 1973 War Powers Resolution (Friday), he was emphatic. “We are not at war.”

60-day war powers deadline sparks legal debate

The comments come as the military conflict with Iran approaches the 60-day deadline set by the 1973 War Powers Resolution, which requires the president to withdraw troops from hostilities within 60 days unless Congress authorizes action.Trump formally notified Congress of the military action on March 2, setting May 1 as a key deadline. Since no authorization has been granted to date, the situation raises the possibility of a constitutional deadlock.The law does allow the president to seek a 30-day extension, but it’s unclear whether Trump plans to invoke that provision.A senior White House official said administration leaders and lawmakers are having “active conversations” about how to move forward, adding that any lawmakers who oppose the authorization “will only weaken U.S. military power abroad.”

Ceasefire claims at center of government debate

Central to the government’s position is the claim that a ceasefire with Iran effectively stops the clock on war powers.Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers at a Senate hearing that the pause in fighting changed the legal calculus.“I will follow the advice of the White House and the White House. However, we are now in a ceasefire, and our understanding is that that means the 60-day ceasefire is suspended or stopped,” Heggs said.However, this interpretation has been challenged by Democrats, who argue that the statute does not support suspending the deadline.Sen. Tim Kaine responded: “I don’t think the statute would support that.”He added, “I think the 60-day period could expire tomorrow and that would create a very significant legal issue for the government.”

Trump’s stance on ‘war’ shifts

While his administration insists the United States is not officially at war, Trump himself has used different language to describe the conflict since it began.On February 28, when announcing the first attack, he said, “Brave American heroes may lose their lives, and we may have casualties. This happens all the time in war. ““I think the war is very complete,” he said on March 9. A few days later, he described the operation as “both” a war and a “brief trip.”Later in March, Trump said he might avoid calling it a war because “you should get congressional approval.”Still, he said in mid-April, “I had to go to war.”In an interview with Newsmax on Thursday, he reflected on the ambiguity again, saying: “The stock market just hit new highs during a war or a military operation, whatever you want to call it.”

Conflict context and rising costs

The current conflict began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iran, targeting Tehran and other locations. Iran retaliated, attacking U.S. bases and Israeli targets in the region while also disrupting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, sending global oil prices surging.The fighting has caused heavy casualties. Jules Hurst III, the Pentagon’s acting comptroller, told the House Armed Services Committee that the war has cost $25 billion so far and the administration plans to seek additional funding from Congress.Military leaders testifying before the panel stopped short of saying the operation would end soon, suggesting the United States may remain involved despite the ceasefire.

Democrats fight back, warn of legal violations

Democrats are increasingly concerned that the administration is on shaky legal footing and that failure to formally end or authorize hostilities could violate the War Powers Resolution.Senator Adam Schiff, who introduced a resolution to curb the conflict, said: “Some of my colleagues have indicated that the 60-day mark of the War Powers Act is the point at which they might work with us to end this war. That time has arrived. “He added, “After two months of war, in which thirteen service members have lost their lives and billions of dollars have been wasted, it is time for us to recognize that the price we have paid has been too high.”Despite these efforts, any attempts to halt government action face significant obstacles. Even if a resolution passes the Senate, it would need approval from the Republican-controlled House of Representatives and could ultimately be vetoed by Trump.

The path forward is full of uncertainty

War powers resolutions have historically struggled to limit presidential military action, with courts often avoiding intervention and resolving disputes through political negotiations.For now, it appears the Trump administration will rely on its explanation that the ceasefire pauses the legal clock, although critics argue the deadline remains binding.With the May 1 threshold approaching and no clear resolution in sight, the question of whether the United States is officially at war with Iran is likely to remain at the center of an increasingly heated legal and political debate.