'Enough Is Enough': Lawmakers Criticize Trump Over Resumption of Iran War

President Donald Trump has told Congress that the United States is back at war with Iran. Fresh strikes were exchanged between the two countries near the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway in the Middle East. Trump sent a formal letter to Congress on July 10 saying the war had restarted. Many Democratic lawmakers quickly spoke out against the decision, saying Congress — not the president — should decide when the country goes to war.

Trump's administration says the letter starts a new 60-day period. During this window, the president believes he can carry out military actions against Iran without asking Congress for approval. However, many lawmakers disagree strongly. They say the law does not give the president that kind of power just by sending a letter.

Just last month, both the House of Representatives and the Senate voted to limit Trump's ability to keep fighting Iran. Those votes were part of the War Powers Act, a law that says Congress must approve military action that goes on too long. Democrats say Trump is ignoring the will of Congress by restarting the war.

Senator Adam Schiff of California filed a new War Powers Resolution on Monday. The resolution was co-signed by four other Democratic senators — Tim Kaine, Andy Kim, Jeff Merkley, and Chris Van Hollen. Schiff said the country was promised the war would be over, but instead things got worse. "We've gone from a bad U.S.-Iran deal to more strikes, another blockade, and added turmoil that will only drive prices higher," he said.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer was also very critical of the Trump administration. He said Trump's earlier agreement with Iran "fell apart faster than the ink could dry." Schumer reminded everyone that both houses of Congress had already voted to end the war. "Trump must comply," he said firmly, adding: "Enough is enough. End the war."

Schumer went further when he spoke on the Senate floor on Monday. He called Trump's approach a "rinse and repeat" strategy that isn't working. He also pointed to rising costs for everyday Americans. "Gas prices stay high, casualties increase, costs increase," he said. "It's incredible what a fiasco this war is."

Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut also raised concerns about how the war is hurting Americans financially. He said gas prices are spiking again because of the renewed fighting. Murphy also argued that the U.S. made a mistake when it killed Iran's former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, saying the move allowed "more dangerous hardliners" to take power in Iran.

Democratic Representative Teresa Leger Fernández of New Mexico spoke out against the war as well. She said Trump cannot end a war on paper to dodge the law, then restart it whenever he chooses. "No more lies. No more endless wars," she said, showing that frustration among Democratic lawmakers is growing fast.

In addition to restarting military action, Trump made another big announcement. He said the U.S. should control the Strait of Hormuz and act as its "guardian," and that other countries should pay the U.S. for keeping the waterway safe. About one-fifth of the world's oil passes through the Strait, making it one of the most important shipping routes on Earth.

Trump announced a 20% fee on all cargo shipped through the Strait, which was criticized by both Democrats and Republicans. Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas noted that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had said no country is allowed to charge tolls on an international waterway. Senator Andy Kim warned the fee would raise the cost of everyday goods "from fertilizer for our farms to toys for our kids." According to the AAA, gas prices have already risen to $3.85 per gallon — up from $2.98 before the war began.