In a decisive bipartisan vote, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly defeated an effort by progressive Democrat Rep. Al Green (D-TX) to impeach President Donald Trump over recent U.S. military strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities.
The vote ended 344–79, underscoring deep divisions within the Democratic Party as 128 Democrats joined Republicans to halt the impeachment attempt.
Green’s resolution accused President Trump of abusing his powers as commander-in-chief by launching strikes without explicit Congressional approval. The weekend attacks, aimed at crippling Iran’s nuclear program, have sparked fierce debate on Capitol Hill, but ultimately most lawmakers concluded impeachment went too far.
“I did not come to Congress to be a bystander while a president abuses power and devolves American democracy into authoritarianism,” Green said Tuesday. He argued that Trump’s “unauthorized bombing of Iran constitutes a de facto declaration of war,” and stressed, “No president has the right to drag this nation into war without the authorization of the people’s representatives.”
All three House Democratic leaders—Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA), and Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar (D-CA)—sided with Republicans, highlighting their unwillingness to escalate impeachment proceedings against Trump over military decisions they say fall within presidential authority.
Rep. Green, known for previous attempts to oust Trump, argued that the strikes amounted to “a de facto declaration of war,” insisting the President had overstepped his constitutional bounds.
Yet, Republican Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), who previously practiced constitutional law, strongly defended Trump’s actions. “The strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities were clearly within President Trump’s Article II powers as Commander in Chief,” Johnson said Tuesday. “It shouldn’t even be in dispute.”
Some Democrats, like progressive firebrand Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), continue to advocate impeachment. However, their effort fell flat as moderate and leadership Democrats sided with Republicans, signaling a clear rejection of further impeachment efforts.
Following the vote, the White House emphasized Trump’s decisive leadership. “President Trump was able to quickly accomplish what no other President has been able to achieve,” Assistant Press Secretary Taylor Rogers stated, citing the recent ceasefire agreement and destruction of Iran’s nuclear capabilities as major accomplishments.
Trump himself took to Truth Social, mocking impeachment supporters as having “the Lowest Poll Numbers in Congressional History,” and taunting opponents to “go ahead and try Impeaching me.”
Despite ongoing partisan tensions, this bipartisan rejection makes clear that mainstream Democrats and Republicans alike stand firm against impeachment proceedings related to Trump’s handling of the Iran crisis.