US President Donald Trump has declared the 60-day limit imposed under the War Powers Resolution as “totally unconstitutional.” This assertion signals that his administration will not seek congressional approval for continuing military operations linked to the conflict with Iran. This announcement was made on May 2, 2026, as Trump spoke to reporters at the White House before heading to Florida.

In details circulated by Politico, Trump formally communicated his stance to Congress through a letter. He expressed strong opposition to the legal framework established by the War Powers Resolution of 1973, which necessitates presidential authorization from Congress to prolong military hostilities beyond 60 days. Trump remarked, “They consider it totally unconstitutional. It’s never been used before. Why should we be different?”

As lawmakers and legal experts noted the expiry of the deadline, Trump’s assertion comes at a time of heightened scrutiny concerning presidential war powers. This scenario follows a notification sent to Congress on March 2, outlining the commencement of hostilities involving Iran.

Ceasefire Claimed by Administration

In his letter, Trump stated that the conflict with Iran had effectively concluded. He argued that the ceasefire reached with Tehran stopped the legal timeframe set by the War Powers Resolution. Trump highlighted that there had been no exchanges of fire between the United States and Iran since April 7, 2026, asserting, “The hostilities that began on February 28, 2026, have terminated.”

This viewpoint from the Trump administration is anticipated to fuel existing debates in Congress surrounding the extent of presidential war powers. The constitutional authority for conducting military operations without explicit legislative approval remains a contentious issue.

Despite this ongoing discussion, House Speaker Mike Johnson stated that congressional authorization is unnecessary at present, as reported by NBC News. Johnson maintained that the US is not engaged in active military hostilities, asserting, “I don’t think we have an active, kinetic military bombing, firing, or anything like that. Right now, we are trying to broker a peace.”

Internal Relations and Negotiation Stalemate

Discussion of the War Powers Resolution’s 60-day deadline drew further scrutiny, particularly from US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who remarked during a Senate hearing that halting active combat changes the legal obligations. Hegseth stated, “However, we are in a ceasefire right now, which, in our understanding, means the 60-day clock pauses or stops in a ceasefire.”

This interpretation has received pushback from Democratic lawmakers, who argue that the law does not allow for such a pause in legal obligations. The administration’s assertion emphasizes a complicated legal landscape as discussions regarding military engagement with Iran continue.

Furthermore, President Trump conveyed dissatisfaction regarding Iran’s latest proposal to cease ongoing hostilities. While addressing reporters, he remarked, “They want to make a deal, but I’m not satisfied with it, so we’ll see what happens.” Although he did not specify the reasons for his discontent, he expressed uncertainty about Tehran’s commitment to reaching an agreement.

Trump also alluded to internal discord within Iran’s political structure, suggesting that this disunity could disrupt the negotiation process. He noted, “The leadership is very disjointed… they all want to make a deal, but they’re all messed up.” This statement follows Iran’s submission of a recent proposal aimed at advancing discussions to resolve the ongoing conflict.

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