<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A vote in the US House of Representatives that would have forced </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/donald-trump" rel="" target="" title="Donald Trump"><span>Donald Trump</span></a><span> to immediately end </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-politics-live-updates-donald-trump-visits-china-may-15-iran-israel-middle-east-war-blog-rolling-updates/521fb26c-adc2-4a13-b3de-93e92045da89" rel="" target="" title="America's war with Iran"><span>America's war with Iran</span></a><span> has ended in a tie.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Three Republicans crossed the aisle to vote with 209 Democrats on a resolution directing the president "to remove the United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/iran" rel="" target="" title="Islamic Republic of Iran"><span>Islamic Republic of Iran</span></a><span>".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>One Democrat and an independent joined the remaining 210 Republicans to vote no.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-politics-live-updates-donald-trump-visits-china-may-15-iran-israel-middle-east-war-blog-rolling-updates/521fb26c-adc2-4a13-b3de-93e92045da89"><strong><span>'We pulled it off': Obama takes extraordinary swipe at Trump</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A tied vote in the House means the resolution did not pass.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The three House Republicans who crossed the floor this morning are all facing tight re-election races in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-american-financial-situation-iran-usa-politics-news/461a3ba6-1091-439b-84ba-219d4d381e10" rel="" target="" title="November's looming elections"><span>November's looming elections</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Earlier this week, Trump lost the support of another Republican in the Senate.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/iran-war-vote-congress-house-of-representatives-senate-usa-politics-news/a816e23a-d2e8-479d-8bf0-a4076caf9588" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Lisa Murkowski voted against the war for the first time, alongside two other Republican opponents.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Her switch meant legislation to end the war in the upper house failed by two votes.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>If the resolution passed both houses, Trump would have no choice but to end the US blockade of the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/iran-strait-of-hormuz-toll-tankers-charge-tax-middle-east-latest-updates/274c41fa-6a57-45f7-8663-bbbaeb2150bc" rel="" target="" title="Strait of Hormuz"><span>Strait of Hormuz</span></a><span> and cease all hostilities with Iran.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The handful of defecting Republicans in a narrowly held Congress should be cause for concern for Trump.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In previous wars, Congress had a habit of rallying around the flag to support it. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The declaration of </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/japan" rel="" target="" title="war on Japan"><span>war on Japan</span></a><span> in 1941 passed the House 388 to one, and in the Senate 82 to zero.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The vote was held an hour after </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/today-in-history-april-12-what-happened-on-this-day-franklin-roosevelt/c4f51afb-ef2f-48fb-8686-917911521add" rel="" target="" title="President Franklin Roosevelt"><span>President Franklin Roosevelt</span></a><span>'s "day that will live in infamy" speech.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-american-financial-situation-iran-usa-politics-news/461a3ba6-1091-439b-84ba-219d4d381e10"><strong><span>Donald Trump's latest comment will be used against him in November</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But Trump has done very little to convince the American people of the value of the war with Iran.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Democrats are tearing into Trump over the war and its cost.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's been 76 days since Trump launched his illegal war in Iran, and the Administration is still refusing to share with Congress or the public an official legal rationale for the conflict—all while pushing for $US1.5 trillion ($A2.08 trillion) for the Pentagon," Senator Tim Kaine said. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Everything about that is ridiculous."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal described the war as "senseless".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Billions of taxpayer dollars wasted. Thousands of lives lost. Soaring energy prices," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"That's what Republicans just voted for."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While the president is the commander-in-chief of the US military, only Congress has the authority to declare war.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They also have the power to fund the war, which has cost the Pentagon an estimated A$40 billion so far.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Because Congress did not authorise the war, the costs of it are being pulled from the general Pentagon budget.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The </span><em><span>Wall Street Journal</span></em><span> reported today that the Pentagon will have to cancel training exercises and other spending because so much money is being diverted to the war with Iran.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-china-visit-beijing-elon-musk-billionaires-apple-boeing-tesla-brett-ratner-usa-news/ab06c2f2-4bdd-4b78-9f1e-1e779a0abba4"><strong><span>The motley crew of billionaires tagging along on Trump's China visit</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></strong></em><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></li></ul></div></div>