“On April 7, 2026, I ordered a 2-week ceasefire. The ceasefire has since been extended. There has been no exchange of fire between United States Forces and Iran since April 7, 2026. The hostilities that began on February 28, 2026, have terminated,” the president wrote in the letter.
Around the same time, he suggested the law was unconstitutional is response to questions from reporters.
The letter to Congress said that despite the war being terminated for purposes of the War Powers Act, the U.S. remained on war footing in the Middle East.
“Despite the success of United States operations against the Iranian regime and continued efforts to secure a lasting peace, the threat posed by Iran to the United States and our Armed Forces remains significant,” Trump said.
“Accordingly, the Department of War continues to update its force posture in the AoR [Area of Responsibility] in select countries, as necessary and appropriate, to address Iranian and Iranian proxy forces’ threats and to protect the United States and its allies and partners," he said.
Although officials and lawmakers have provided different points for when the 60-day deadline of the War Powers Act kicks in, Friday marks 60 days since the president formally informed Congress, on March 2, of the kinetic action against Tehran.
Trump, when asked Friday ahead of his departure to Florida, about the War Powers Act, argued it has not been previously sought and neither should it now.
“It’s never been sought before, there’s been numerous, many, many times and nobody’s ever gotten it before, they consider it totally unconstitutional,” the president told reporters.
“But we’re always in touch with Congress. But, nobody’s ever sought it before; nobody’s ever asked for it before; it’s never been used before," he said. "Why should we be different?”
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