Rebuffing Trump, House votes for first time to end war in Iran

In a severe political blow to President Donald Trump, the House of Representatives voted for the first time on Wednesday, June 3, to end the war in Iran.

The 215-208 vote, which was mostly symbolic, marked a new period of congressional unease with the conflict in the Middle East amid an impasse in peace negotiations. Strikes in the region have continued in recent days despite the White House's assertion to lawmakers that hostilities have ended.

Four Republicans joined with Democrats to support a resolution asserting the legislative branch's war authority and blocking further hostilities in the region. It came just two weeks after the Senate advanced a similar measure.

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The GOP lawmakers who defected from their party were: Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Tom Barrett of Michigan, Warren Davidson of Ohio and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania.

"The People’s House is sending a message: End this war," Massie, a noted political enemy of Trump's despite sharing the same party, wrote on social media after the vote.

Davidson, in a separate statement, called on the White House to provide more clarity on U.S. objectives, saying: "Define the mission. Authorize the mission. Accomplish the mission."

Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat who has sided with Republicans in previous Iran war votes, also flipped to support the resolution. Golden, who is departing Congress after his term, hails from a competitive district in Maine.

Democrats celebrated the political victory, though it didn't have any immediate implications.

"House Democrats successfully passed our war powers resolution today to stand up for the American people and hold Donald Trump accountable," said the top House Democrats, including Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, in a statement. "It is now time for Senate Republicans to do the right thing."

Earlier in the day, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson continued to back the president's military campaign in Iran, despite the clear unease within his own party.

"He's trying to prevent the largest sponsor of state terrorism from having a nuclear weapon," he said of Trump. "The first responsibility of the commander-in-chief is to keep the country safe. He has done that. He's demonstrated it every day."

Zachary Schermele is a congressional reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach him by email at [email protected]. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and Bluesky at @zachschermele.bsky.social.