Schumer Vows to Use Senate Majority to End Iran War

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer pledged on Wednesday to use his party's Senate majority to end the war with Iran. American political and military officials have praised Israel as a partner in that war. Schumer pointed to Congress's power over federal spending and to earlier votes in which, he said, some Republicans joined Democrats in opposing the conflict.

Schumer spoke at a news conference the day after the midterm elections and accused President Donald Trump of never telling Americans what the military campaign is meant to achieve.

"The American people don't know what the heck we're fighting for in Iran. He's never made it clear. He changes his mind day-to-day and minute-to-minute. This war must end. It must end."

He said Democrats had secured 54 Senate seats and could reach 55 or 56. A reporter asked whether Democrats would use defense funding to press Trump to halt the war. Schumer answered by citing the earlier Republican defections and Congress's constitutional authority over spending. "Look, we are going to end the war," he declared.

He also said Democrats intend to cut funding to the Department of Defense, headed by Pete Hegseth, and that several Republican senators support the effort.

Senator Bernie Sanders said resolutions alone would not be enough and that Democrats could stop the war by cutting off its money. He called the conflict illegal and unconstitutional and vowed that Democrats would end it.

The new Congress is expected to be sworn in on January 3, with Democrats holding both chambers. Most Senate legislation will still need 60 votes, and Trump keeps his veto. In a Fox News interview on Wednesday, the president promised to veto any "crazy" bill. He had already offered a preview on a New York Post podcast: "I'll become Mr. Veto. And at some point, we'll probably make a deal."

In its analysis, i24NEWS argued that Trump could veto war powers resolutions but could not veto a cutoff of funding.

Schumer also held Trump's policies responsible for higher prices on gasoline, diesel, electricity and healthcare. He said Democrats would answer actions they regard as unlawful with congressional investigations, lawsuits and legislation.

Vice President JD Vance had acknowledged the war's political cost earlier on Wednesday. "The reason we lost is the war. The president himself said so last night," he wrote on social media. Trump later said he agreed with that assessment but defended the campaign. "I thought it was good. I knew that when I went in. We stopped them from having a nuclear weapon, and they'll never have a nuclear weapon," he said. "If I had it to do again, I'd have to do it again, because long term it's the only answer. You can't let Iran have a nuclear weapon."