Congress Backs Trump's War — Rejects Bipartisan War Powers Resolutions
Summary
On the fifth day of the war, the U.S. Congress effectively gave President Trump a blank check. Both the Senate and the House voted to reject bipartisan war powers resolutions that would have constrained the president's authority to continue military operations without explicit congressional authorization. The House vote was particularly decisive. Defense Secretary Hegseth declared the U.S. was "just getting started," while Trump promised defense manufacturers would "quadruple" weapons production.
Military Developments
"Just Getting Started"
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told CBS that the U.S. military was "just getting started" — signaling a long campaign ahead rather than a limited strike operation. The comment came as Iran escalated retaliatory strikes in response to what was increasingly clear would be a prolonged battle.
Iran Escalates
Iran escalated its retaliatory strikes across the region as the scope and duration of the U.S. campaign became clearer. With the U.S. signaling no near-term end to operations, Iran appeared to shift from initial retaliation to sustained bombardment of coalition assets and Gulf state infrastructure.
Political Developments
War Powers Resolutions Rejected
In a pivotal political moment, both the Senate and the House voted to reject bipartisan war powers resolutions that would have required Trump to seek congressional authorization for continued operations. Speaker Johnson rallied Republicans to defeat the measures, and the votes effectively backed Trump's unilateral decision to launch the war, removing the most immediate legislative check on the campaign.
Weapons Production Surge
Trump announced that defense manufacturers would "quadruple" weapons production, signaling both the expected duration of the conflict and the administration's intention to sustain high-tempo operations. The announcement was welcomed by defense stocks but raised questions about the war's projected cost and timeline.
Congress Demands War Powers — Then Folds
Just days earlier, members of Congress had demanded a swift vote on war powers after Trump launched the strikes without congressional approval. The rapid reversal — from demanding a vote to voting down their own resolutions — illustrated the power of the rally-around-the-flag effect in wartime.
Economic Impact
Trump's promise of quadrupled weapons production and Hegseth's "just getting started" rhetoric sent mixed signals to markets — defense stocks surged while broader markets remained volatile. The growing expectation of a prolonged conflict put additional upward pressure on oil prices and deepened uncertainty across global supply chains.
International Reaction
- Iran — Escalated retaliatory strikes, interpreting the U.S. signals as confirmation of a prolonged campaign
- U.S. Congress — Rally-around-the-flag effect held; bipartisan opposition to war powers constraints
- Analysts — Noted the conflict's rapid expansion and the lack of any congressional check on executive war-making
What to Watch
- Whether Iran can sustain its retaliatory tempo as its missile stockpiles deplete
- Congressional appetite for oversight as the war's costs mount
- Defense industry capacity to actually scale production as promised
- How long the political rally-around-the-flag effect holds