Congress dodges preemptive confrontation with Trump over Iran

Senate leaders are avoiding direct answers on whether President Trump needs approval from Congress before taking any military action against Iran.Why it matters: Congress is reluctant to second-guess the commander-in-chief before he actually authorizes strikes. But Democrats have a visceral distrust of Trump, and a growing GOP faction is deeply suspicious of foreign military interventions."Those questions have been debated, litigated for a long time about... how much authority the President has as commander in chief," Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said when asked if Trump needed congressional approval to strike Iran."I believe Congress and the Senate, Senate Democrats, if necessary, will not hesitate to exercise our authority," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said at a press conference Tuesday.Lawmakers have privately stressed to Schumer the need to maintain the military's flexibility in this situation, sources told Axios. Driving the news: The world is awaiting a decision from Trump on whether he'll deploy bunker-busting bombs on Iran's underground nuclear facilities."For too long we've surrendered [war powers] to presidents who have since eroded the constitutional clear mandate," Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) told Axios.Zoom in: Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) is on the hunt for GOP senators to back his war powers resolution – and he is convinced he's making progress.Kaine will need at least four Republicans to cross the aisle and join him. "Some have told me that they're likely to vote for it," Kaine told Axios.Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is viewed as most likely to join Democratic efforts, but declined to say how he plans to vote yet. He argues the Constitution requires congressional approval of military strikes.Kaine isn't able to force a vote on his resolution until 10 days after it was filed, meaning a vote won't happen until at least next week.Zoom out: War powers resolution are more symbolic than substantive.Even if one cleared the Senate, it would still need to pass the GOP-controlled House. And Trump would almost certainly veto it, requiring an override vote in both chambers.Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Foreign Relations Chair Jim Risch (R-Idaho) both declined to answer questions on the issue, calling it "sensitive" and a "very complicated question."But some Republicans are giving Trump the green light."A single bombing run, historically, has not been understood to require congressional authorization," Sen. Ten Cruz said.Asked if the president needs congressional approval to launch strikes on Iran, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told Axios, simply: "No."

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Furious Trump tells Iran his patience is wearing thin and demands surrender amid WW3 fears

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