On the 63rd day of a high-stakes military campaign against Iran, President Donald Trump has declared that active “hostilities” have terminated, a move that legal experts say is designed to bypass the 60-day deadline of the War Powers Resolution of 1973. Despite the President’s insistence that the United States is “winning,” peace negotiations remain stalled as the White House rejects Tehran’s latest proposals. Simultaneously, a widening rift with NATO allies has led to the ordered withdrawal of 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany following public criticism from Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Meanwhile, the fragile ceasefire in the region continues to fray, with at least 12 people reported killed in southern Lebanon.
President Donald Trump asserted on Friday that the United States has reached a turning point in its two-month military campaign against Iran, claiming in a formal letter to Congress that “hostilities” have ended. The declaration comes as the administration faces a critical legal deadline to seek congressional authorization for the war, an authorization the President now argues is unnecessary because the active combat phase has concluded.
Speaking at a dinner at the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches, the President struck a defiant tone, characterizing domestic criticism of the war effort as “treasonous” and dismissing the need for legislative approval. “We get the radical left to say, ‘We’re not winning’… It’s actually… treasonous,” Trump told an audience of supporters. He maintained that the U.S. military has severely degraded Iran’s capabilities, asserting without specific evidence that the Iranian leadership is “disjointed” and their military infrastructure is largely neutralized.
The War Powers Stalemate
The President’s letter, addressed to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate President Pro Tempore Chuck Grassley, marks the 60th day since the initiation of “Operation Epic Fury” on February 28, 2026. Under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, a president must obtain a formal declaration of war or specific statutory authorization from Congress within 60 days of initiating military action. By declaring that hostilities have “terminated,” the White House is effectively arguing that the statutory clock has stopped, allowing the U.S. to maintain a significant military presence in the region without a vote from a divided Congress.
The legal maneuvering drew immediate fire from Democratic leaders. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer characterized the President’s claim as “bullshit,” arguing that the war remains an “illegal” use of executive power. Despite the administration’s claim that there has been no exchange of fire between U.S. forces and Iran since April 7, critics point to the continued interdiction of Iranian-linked vessels in the Strait of Hormuz as evidence of ongoing conflict.
Just recently, the USS Spruance, a U.S. Navy destroyer, intercepted an Iranian-flagged cargo ship, the Touska, in the Gulf of Oman. President Trump described the operation in vivid detail during his Friday remarks, comparing the Navy’s tactics to “pirates” in a manner he framed as a sign of strength and profitability. “We took over the ship, we took over the cargo, took over the oil,” he said. “It’s a very profitable business.”
Diplomatic Impasse and NATO Friction
On the diplomatic front, the path to a lasting peace appears obstructed. While Tehran has submitted a second proposal for peace talks, President Trump expressed deep dissatisfaction with the terms. “They want to make a deal, but I’m not satisfied with it,” Trump told reporters, adding that the U.S. might be “better off” without an immediate agreement if the terms do not ensure the total permanent cessation of Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
This “America First” approach to the conflict has caused significant friction with European allies. The Pentagon confirmed Friday that the U.S. will withdraw roughly 5,000 troops from Germany over the next six to 12 months. The decision follows a public spat between Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Merz, who took office in 2025, recently suggested that the U.S. was being “humiliated” by Iran’s leadership, a comment that reportedly incensed the President.
The withdrawal represents approximately 14% of the 35,000 U.S. service members currently stationed in Germany. Pentagon officials described the move as a result of a “force posture review,” but the timing suggests a direct retaliatory strike against Berlin’s lack of support for the Iranian campaign.
Escalation in Lebanon
While the President speaks of terminated hostilities, the reality on the ground in the broader Middle East remains volatile. In southern Lebanon, a fragile ceasefire brokered in mid-April is nearing collapse. The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health reported that at least 12 people were killed in Israeli strikes over the last 48 hours.
Israel has maintained that its strikes are targeted at Hezbollah positions, yet the civilian toll continues to mount. Since open conflict resumed on March 2, the Lebanese health ministry estimates that 2,618 people have been killed and over 8,000 wounded. The Israeli military has issued fresh evacuation orders for several towns in southern Lebanon, signaling that a major ground escalation may be imminent despite the official ceasefire extension.
As the conflict enters its third month, the Trump administration remains committed to a strategy of maximum pressure, both militarily against Tehran and diplomatically against allies who question the mission’s trajectory. With Congress largely sidelined and the legal clock reset by executive fiat, the duration and ultimate cost of the war remain unclear.
