Administration of Donald J. Trump, 2020

May 6, 2020

Today I vetoed S.J. Res. 68, which purported to direct me to terminate the use of United States Armed Forces in hostilities against Iran. This was a very insulting resolution, introduced by Democrats as part of a strategy to win an election on November 3 by dividing the Republican Party. The few Republicans who voted for it played right into their hands.

In addition, S.J. Res. 68 is based on misunderstandings of facts and law. Contrary to the resolution, the United States is not engaged in the use of force against Iran. Four months ago, I took decisive action to eliminate Qassem Soleimani while he was in Iraq. Iran responded by launching a series of missiles at our forces stationed in Iraq. No one was killed by these attacks. Further, the strike against Soleimani was fully authorized by law, including by the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 and Article II of the Constitution.

Finally, S.J. Res. 68 would have greatly harmed the President's ability to protect the United States, its allies, and its partners. The resolution implies that the President's constitutional authority to use military force is limited to defense of the United States and its forces against imminent attack. That is incorrect. We live in a hostile world of evolving threats, and the Constitution recognizes that the President must be able to anticipate our adversaries' next moves and take swift and decisive action in response. That's what I did!

Congress should not have passed this resolution.

Categories: Statements by the President : U.S. Armed Forces in hostilities against Iran, vetoing legislation to terminate use.

Subjects: Iran : International diplomatic efforts; Iran : Quds Force Commander, death in U.S. airstrike in Baghdad, Iraq; Iraq : Baghdad :: Iranian Quds Force Commander, death in U.S. airstrike; Presidency, U.S : Constitutional role and powers; Terrorism : Counterterrorism efforts.

DCPD Number: DCPD202000336.

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