On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives rejected a resolution by Rep. Al Greene (D-TX) that aimed to address President Donald Trump’s actions.
Democrats from Texas brought forward the resolution after Trump ordered a bombing in Iran over the weekend without seeking Congressional approval.
The resolution claims that Trump poses a “threat to American democracy.”
President Trump’s unilateral use of military force without Congressional consent represents an abuse of power, especially without an immediate threat to the U.S. This action risks transforming American democracy into authoritarianism.
Greene argued passionately on the House floor, stating that the U.S. was “at the crossroads of democracy and dictatorship,” and accused Trump of leading the nation toward an authoritarian regime that undermines Congressional authority to declare war.
He labeled Trump as an “authoritarian” and warned that he could “become a dictator” in order to maintain power.
As reported by various sources, presidents from both parties have acted without obtaining formal approval from Congress for military actions in the past.
However, Greene’s efforts failed to sway his fellow Democrats, as the House turned down the resolution with a vote of 344-79, including support from 128 Democrats.
The House’s decision to showcase this resolution reflects ongoing division among Democrats regarding the question of Trump’s impeachment. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) also expressed her concerns.
“The president’s reckless choice to bomb Iran without authorization is a severe breach of the Constitution and the Congressional power of war,” Ocasio-Cortez stated after the attacks.
“His impulsive actions endanger us and could lead to long-lasting conflict. That’s definitely a substantial reason,” she noted on Tuesday, prompting a response from Trump.
Trump referred to Ocasio-Cortez as one of the “silliest” members of Congress, accusing her of wanting to impeach him. He also mentioned finding issues with her qualifications for office.
Trump then dismissed the past impeachment attempts, urging Democrats to “Make My Day!” if they attempted to do it again.
