House

Cuellar says he will support a war powers resolution to curb Trump’s attacks on Iran

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by Max Rego - 04/07/26 9:52 PM ET

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by Max Rego - 04/07/26 9:52 PM ET

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Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar (Texas) said Tuesday that he will back a House war powers resolution when it comes before the lower chamber again, a reversal of his previous position.

In a lengthy statement, Cuellar criticized President Trump’s threat that a “whole civilization will die” in Iran, which he issued Tuesday morning before backing down and halting strikes against the Middle Eastern country for two weeks.

“I respect the weight of the decisions before the president and the responsibility he carries to protect the American people,” Cuellar wrote.

“However, I believe we must be careful with the language we use.

“Strength and destruction are not the same. The words we choose matter, not just here at home, but around the world.”

The Texas Democrat later added, “I continue to ask the administration for answers about our objectives, our long-term goals, and most importantly, a clear exit strategy” in Iran.

“So far, those answers have not been sufficient,” Cuellar noted. “And because of that, I intend to support a war powers resolution when it comes before the House again. Not as a rebuke, but as a reaffirmation of Congress’ constitutional role and our shared responsibility to the American people.”

Cuellar was one of four House Democrats — Reps. Jared Golden (D-Maine), Greg Landsman (D-Ohio) and Juan Vargas (D-Calif.) being the other three — to vote against a war powers resolution to halt the U.S. military campaign in Iran. The resolution, sponsored by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and co-sponsored by 94 Democrats, failed 219-212 on March 5.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) told host Anderson Cooper on CNN Tuesday that once the lower chamber returns to session on Monday, his caucus will bring another war powers resolution “as soon as it becomes available to us to do so, as a matter of privilege” to the floor.

Earlier Tuesday, the president wrote on his Truth Social platform, “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again,” referring to Iran. Trump had set an 8 p.m. EDT deadline for the Iranian government to lift restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

“I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will,” the president added of the threatened strikes.

“However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS?

“We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World. 47 years of extortion, corruption, and death, will finally end. God Bless the Great People of Iran!”

Later in the day, the president backed off after Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged him to do so. Trump wrote on Truth Social that after speaking with Sharif and Pakistani army chief Asim Munir, he agreed to suspend strikes on Iran for two weeks, during which an Iranian 10-point proposal to end hostilities will be “finalized and consummated.”

The Iranian Supreme National Security Council said it accepted the two-week ceasefire and would negotiate starting Friday with U.S. officials in Islamabad, Pakistan, according to The Associated Press.

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