President Donald Trump speaks to the media sooner than boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White Residence on April 16, 2026.
Anna Moneymaker | Getty Photos
President Donald Trump fast Congress on Friday that hostilities in Iran “have terminated” since he imposed a two-week ceasefire on April 7 that has been prolonged.
Trump’s enlighten got right here on what would had been a deadline below the War Powers Resolution of 1973 for him to ask Congress to formally enlighten wrestle against Iran or authorize the utilization of military force against that nation.
Friday marks 60 days since the wrestle began, in gradual February. Beneath the War Powers Resolution, a president must see authorization from Congress for military force within 60 days of the beginning of hostilities.
Congress has no longer authorized U.S. military action against Iran. Trump’s letters to congressional leaders Friday are a volley aimed at discouraging lawmakers in Congress from restricting military action against Iran.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., in a post to X on Friday called the president’s enlighten “bulls—.”
“This is an illegal war and every day Republicans remain complicit and allow it to continue is another day lives are endangered, chaos erupts, and prices increase, all while Americans foot the bill,” Schumer wrote.
Trump suggested earlier Friday that the War Powers Resolution is unconstitutional, as he talked about he would no longer see authorization from Congress.
“There has been no exchange of fire between United States Forces and Iran since April 7, 2026,” Trump wrote in separate letters addressed to Residence Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Senate President Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa.
“The hostilities that began on February 28, 2026, have terminated,” Trump wrote.
Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth, in testimony on Thursday to the Senate Armed Products and services Committee, talked about he believes that the countdown clock “pauses or stops in a ceasefire.”
Sen. Tim Kaine fast Hegseth, “I do not believe the statute would support that.”
Trump, when requested Friday on the White Residence about hunting for authorization from Congress for military force against Iran, talked about he would no longer “because it’s never been sought before” from completely different presidents.
“There’s been numerous, many, many times, and nobody’s ever gotten it before. They consider it totally unconstitutional, but we’re always in touch with Congress, but nobody’s ever sought it before,” Trump talked about.
“Nobody’s ever asked for it before. It’s never been used before. Why should we be different?”
Trump additionally talked about he will not be any longer pleased with a unique offer from Iran to cease its wrestle with the US and Israel.
“Iran wants to make a deal, but I’m not satisfied with it,” Trump fast journalists on the White Residence. “Iran wants to make a deal because they have no military left.”
Asked why he used to be unhappy with Iran’s latest offer, Trump talked about, “They’re asking for things that I can’t agree” to.
Earlier Friday sooner than Trump spoke, Pakistani officials in Islamabad who had been serious about mediating peace talks between the U.S. and Iran confirmed to MS NOW that Iran sent them an as a lot as this level proposal to cease the wrestle, which they’d sent to American officials.
Trump, speaking on the White Residence, talked about Iran has “made strides” in negotiations with the U.S., “but I’m not sure if they ever get there.”
The president talked about there “is tremendous discord” among the many leaders of Iran, which has sophisticated the peace route of.
“They’re having a tremendous problem getting along with each other,” Trump talked about. “In Iran, the leadership is very disjointed. It’s got two to three groups, maybe four, and it’s a very disjointed leadership.”
“And with that being said, they all want to make a deal, but they’re all messed up,” he talked about.
