House Republicans Divided Over Trump's Foreign Policy

“We’re trying to get some stuff done up here, things that the White House wants done,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune said. They “get more complicated with the weekly announcements.”

Republicans remain careful when dealing with Trump, particularly after the president backed primary candidates who ousted GOP stalwarts such as Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and libertarian champion Rep. Tom Massie (R-Ky.).

But four House Republicans joined Democrats in Wednesday’s House vote to effectively halt military operations in the Middle East unless Congress authorizes it.

The 215-208 bipartisan vote is largely symbolic, as Trump would almost certainly veto any legislation that restricts his authority. But the politically damaging vote underscores dissent within his own party and could be a catalyst as the Senate considers similar legislation that advanced in a surprise initial vote last month.

And Trump is going to need Republicans to hold the line if he wants to avoid further political setbacks.

Republicans and Democrats have already teamed up to oppose other aspects of Trump’s foreign policy. The House will consider fresh sanctions on Russia this week as well as aid for Ukraine, a package that came to the floor after a bipartisan coalition forced a vote through a discharge petition. Defense policy legislation set for a vote in the House Armed Services Committee on Thursday also renews limits on withdrawing troops from Europe amid GOP hawks’ frustration that the administration is shuffling troops on the continent.

And the Trump administration’s attempt to establish a $1.8 billion Justice Department “Anti-Weaponization Fund” appears dead after criticism from Republicans that the effort would amount to a payout for the president’s political allies. The rollout had stalled a fast-track, party-line immigration funding bill — with Republicans unlikely to muster enough votes for the package without assurances that DOJ won’t move forward with the fund. The Senate finally began consideration on the bill Wednesday afternoon, which can only afford a handful of GOP defections.

Trump also stoked controversy among congressional Republicans by naming Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and a political ally, as acting director of national intelligence.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

There have been signs of brewing Republican discontent for weeks, if not longer. Lawmakers were set to vote on the war powers measure nearly two weeks ago. But House Republican leaders abruptly punted a vote on the measure as they faced near certain defeat due to defections and absences. Advocates returned to Capitol Hill this week confident the resolution would clear.

Republicans Tom Barrett of Michigan, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Warren Davidson of Ohio and Massie supported the measure to stop U.S. involvement in Iran and ensured its adoption.

All Democrats supported the effort. Moderate Rep. Jared Golden of Maine, who had been the only Democrat to oppose the last measure, announced ahead of the vote that he would vote for it.

Massie, the lone Republican to vote against the war on all four attempts, lost his primary last month to a challenger endorsed by Trump, former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein. Barrett and Fitzpatrick, meanwhile, occupy swing districts that Democrats are aiming to flip in their bid to take over the House. Davidson previously supported — then opposed — the effort before voting in favor of the latest resolution.

Advocates have predicted anti-war legislation would finally find success when the House returned to the measure. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries implored Republicans to join with Democrats to oppose Trump ahead of the vote.

“All we need are a handful of Republicans to join us, and we can end this reckless and costly war of choice,” Jeffries told reporters on Tuesday.

The Senate last month advanced a similar anti-war measure in an unexpected procedural vote as critics of the war took advantage of heavy Republican absences. Four Republicans helped move the measure forward, including Cassidy, who changed his vote to oppose the war after losing his primary.

Still, despite a handful of key defections, the vast majority of Republicans opted to stick with Trump on the vote.

The administration has also blown past a 60-day legal deadline to wind down the military campaign. The White House contends that a ceasefire negates the deadline, but the U.S. and Iran have traded fire in recent weeks as talks to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz falter.

Trump touted last month that a deal was nearly at hand, but it did not emerge. And on Monday, he told CNBC that when it came to the talks, “I don’t care if they’re over, honestly.”