Good Thursday evening. In this edition: House rebukes Iran war as conflict expands and Trump weighs "massive attack."
Plus, tariffs, Saudi deal, Thune, Sanford, Secret Service and Dodgers.
Iran War
The House passed another resolution to end the war against Iran, delivering a rebuke to President Trump as the conflict widens, oil prices climb and the president contemplates greenlighting a "massive attack" on the country.
The war powers resolution passed 214–208, with GOP Reps. Tom Barrett (MI), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA), Warren Davidson (OH) and Thomas Massie (KY) joining all Democrats in support.
House lawmakers then left town for the August recess. The chamber next returns for votes on Aug. 31.
The measure directs the president "to remove the use of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran or any part of its government or military, including potential ground forces in a combat role or used for occupation" without express authorization from Congress.
It was the second time the House has passed an Iran war powers resolution and the first since fighting intensified in recent weeks, resulting in the deaths of four American service members.
Nonetheless, the vote on the nonbinding resolution is largely symbolic because the White House has argued the War Powers Act of 1973 — the basis for the resolutions — is unconstitutional.
Later in the day, the Senate rejected a separate war powers resolution in a 47–49 vote, with Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) voting in favor and Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) voting against.
Several Republican senators, however, have indicated they will not allow the war to continue indefinitely.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) said he would begin supporting war powers resolutions after Sept. 10, which he said would mark 60 days since the administration first referred to the conflict as a "war."
As the U.S. and Iran trade strikes for a 12th consecutive day, President Trump told Axios he was seriously considering restarting major combat operations.
"I am considering a massive attack. Bigger than ever before," he told the outlet. "I am close to making a decision. We are all set for it."
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran is "begging" the U.S. to cut a deal but isn't ready to make one, citing its history of breaking commitments.
He also responded to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's statement that his country's military policy is an "eye for an eye."
"The president's policy is a head for an eye," the secretary said. "I mean, honestly, that's what it's going to be. I mean, they will pay a very heavy price for the things they're doing."
Mr. Araghchi issued the warning Wednesday after President Trump threatened further bombardment of Iran's civilian infrastructure if Tehran continued to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
"Our defense doctrine is clear: eye for an eye," he wrote on social media. "Any aggression against Iran, including our infrastructure, will compel a powerful and decisive response. Those who contribute to such aggression, whatever the kind of support, will also be considered as legitimate targets."
The war also expanded Wednesday when the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen attacked two Saudi oil tankers transiting the Red Sea, prompting President Trump to warn he would hold Iran responsible.
"Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that if they do this again, the U.S. will hold Iran responsible, in that the Houthis are a Surrogate and/or Proxy of Iran, and major military punishment will be inflicted upon Iran and, of course, the Houthis, themselves, who I am very disappointed with in that they have, until now, acted very professionally and smart," he wrote on Truth Social.
Oil prices jumped 6% on news of the Red Sea attack, rising above $100 per barrel for the first time since May.
Crude oil had already been rising with the renewed fighting around the Strait of Hormuz, but the prospect of the Red Sea route also being throttled has stoked fears of even more disruption to global energy markets.
The Trump administrationwill impose tariffs on more than 80 countries on Friday as it seeks to replace the global tariffs struck down by the Supreme Court in February. The levies, which are being imposed under a different legal authority, range from 10% to 12.5% and will replace a 10% global duty set to lapse at midnight. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer previewed the announcement during a Senate hearing Wednesday. "The specific authorities this administration is using have changed, but the trade strategy has not," he said. "We are committed to continuing to use tariffs and to negotiate deals to support the reindustrialization of our economy, protect American workers and increase their wages and shrink our trade deficit." The tariffs will be imposed under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows the president to impose tariffs on foreign countries that engage in unreasonable or discriminatory trade practices.
The fate of the newly signed U.S. agreement to sell nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia remains in question after President Trump added a last-minute condition that the kingdom join the Abraham Accords, normalizing relations with Israel. "This is a condition that the president has spoken about many times with our Gulf and Arab allies. He wants to see these countries sign the Abraham Accords," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. "If they don't join the Abraham Accords, the deal is off." Ms. Leavitt said the president is "always the final dealmaker" when asked why the condition was not mentioned when the agreement was announced Wednesday. The new condition throws the agreement into question because the Saudi government has long made clear it has no intention of recognizing Israel without a pathway toward the creation of a Palestinian state.
The White Housesaid President Trump's patience with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) was wearing thin as Republicans struggle to advance the SAVE America Act through the Senate. "His patience is running out," Ms. Leavitt told reporters. "The House has done its job. The Senate needs to do its job, too." The president has intensified his pressure on the Senate to pass the elections bill, venting his frustration on social media and at rallies. "We're not going to take this any longer, we're not going to take it. I'm trying to be nice," he said in Georgia on Wednesday. Sen. Thune has long maintained that he does not have the votes to pass the bill or the support needed to change the Senate's filibuster rules to allow it to pass on a party-line basis. "Maybe she or somebody else ought to get on the phone and get the votes, right?" a frustrated Sen. Thune told reporters when asked about Ms. Leavitt's criticism. "Instead of pointing the finger at Republicans, they might think about going after the people who are stopping it on the floor, which is the Democrats. And if there are Republicans they think are gettable, get on the phone."
Mark Sanford, the former lawmaker, governor and presidential candidate, jumped into the crowded race for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham's seat in South Carolina. "We're at a tipping point, and that's why I've decided to run for the U.S. Senate," he said in his launch video. "I'd ask that you look at my record in Congress and as governor in watching out for your family's future." The contest already includes the late senator's sister, Sen. Darline Graham, Reps. Russell Fry and Ralph Norman, and businessman Mark Lynch, among others.
A member of Vice President JD Vance's protective detail has been removed pending an administrative investigation and possible criminal inquiry into allegations of compromising operational and information security, the U.S. Secret Service confirmed. Agency spokesman Anthony Guglielmisaid "any conduct that potentially threatens the safety of a protectee will not be tolerated." The investigation stems from allegations that sensitive information related to the vice president's protective operations was improperly disclosed.
President Trumpwelcomed the Los Angeles Dodgers to the White House to celebrate the team's 2025 World Series championship. The Dodgers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays in seven games last fall to win their second consecutive World Series title and ninth overall. The team, which currently sits atop the National League West, presented the president with a customized jersey and a World Series ring during the ceremony in the Rose Garden.
For your radar…
The White House Correspondents' Association holds its annual scholarship and awards dinner on Friday night after it was rescheduled due to an incident where a gunman opened fire outside of the ballroom where President Trump, dignitaries and the press were seated. Watch LIVE on C-SPAN at 7pm ET.
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