Trump tells Congress the Iran war has ‘terminated’ as legal deadline hits – POLITICO

U.S. President Donald Trump notified lawmakers Friday that the Iran war has “terminated” — an effort to quelch the fight over the need for Congress to approve the conflict.

The White House laid out its rationale in a letter, obtained by POLITICO, as the Middle East conflict reached a 60-day legal deadline under which operations must halt unless lawmakers authorize military force. A ceasefire with Tehran, Trump argued, effectively stops the clock.

The missive seeks to head off a growing battle on Capitol Hill, where Trump faces the prospect of losing Republican support as the war stretches into its second month with no clear exit strategy. But the White House’s reasoning won’t sit well with Democrats and some Republicans, who argue the administration must wind down the campaign now that it has reached that benchmark.