House Republicans hope Iran conflict doesn’t become a ‘forever war’ by Sudiksha Kochi - 03/07/26 6:00 AM ET by Sudiksha Kochi - 03/07/26 6:00 AM ET Share ✕ LinkedIn LinkedIn Email Email NOW PLAYING Republicans are hoping the administration’s military operation against Iran doesn’t spiral into an endless war as the 2026 midterm cycle ramps up, a scenario some worry could threaten the GOP’s electoral prospects. Republicans have largely rallied behind President Trump’s decision to strike Iran. A war powers resolution that would have required Trump to seek congressional authorization to continue military action against Iran was defeated in the House in a 212-219 vote, with Reps. Thomas Massie (Ky.) and Warren Davidson (Ohio) being the only Republicans to cross the aisle and support it. Republicans successfully blocked a similar resolution in the Senate . But the votes masked growing unease within parts of the GOP about how long the conflict could last, particularly as it has begun to create tensions  within the party’s “America First” base . Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) told The Hill he was “concerned” that the operation could turn into an endless conflict, but added, “I think that’s why I want the public to stay involved.” When asked earlier in the week what message he would give to MAGA voters, he told reporters that, “I would say stay concerned. I mean, be concerned. Be vigilant. Hold our feet to the fire. Keep us honest on that issue.” Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.), who’s running in a competitive district, said that the “best possible outcome here for the United States and our allies” would be an “expeditious and effective fulfillment of the mission.” And Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) did not rule out another war powers resolution coming to the floor in the future, if the operation does extend for months on end. “If it’s going to go long, I think by definition, you got to have a war powers resolution and seek our support, and it may be the right thing to do,” Bacon told The Hill. “But we’ll have to see. I mean, that’s hypothetical. Let’s see what the facts are.” Asked whether his stance on an Iran war powers resolution would change in the future, Bacon said, “I think I would support a vote on it and say that they’ve got to come make their case. But depends on what’s going on. I don’t think I’d want to vote for another Iraq thing again — be there for 20 years.” Trump said Monday at the White House that the operation is projected to last four to five weeks, but he added that “we have capability to go far longer than that.” “We’ll do it. Whatever — somebody said that, today they said, ‘Oh well, the president wants to do it really quickly. After that, he’ll get bored.’ I don’t get bored,” Trump said.  Trump posted Friday on Truth Social that, “There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!” But some of his typically loyal supporters — including former Fox News hosts Tucker Carlson and Megyn Kelly — have pushed back against the operation. And a prolonged campaign could further erode support from a base he energized with promises to keep the U.S. out of new wars. “History is replete with examples of wars that quickly escalate beyond their initiators’ intent. While some may think we maintain escalation dominance, the spiral of violence can rapidly get out of control,” Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) wrote in  a Fox News op-ed Thursday. “America is at war. But Americans don’t want this war. They didn’t vote for it. In fact, they voted for just the opposite,” Paul, the only Republican to vote in favor of the Senate’s war powers resolution, added.  A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll of 1,282 U.S. adults nationwide found that only 27 percent of respondents approved of the strikes against Iran, while 43 percent disapproved. Davidson told CNN on Tuesday that Americans have a “right to be skeptical” of the operation against Iran. “I mean, you look at war-worry people who’ve seen just endless wars really in this century so far. Post-9/11, the U.S. has kind of been in a continual state of war. Really in the ’90s, I mean, we used air power with hopes of regime change in, you know, the former Yugoslavia, in Serbia and in Kosovo. … And so, really, in that time frame, you’ve seen a continual use of military force. So I think a lot of the country is sort of tired of the endless wars framework,” he said. He added that the U.S. is in a “de facto state of war” with Iran.  Other Republicans, however, have brushed aside concerns that the operation could drag on. “I think this is going to be more like Des