WASHINGTON -- Republicans are standing firmly behind President Trump as he struggles to extricate the U.S. from the war he launched with Iran nearly five months ago, despite signs that Americans are growing weary of the fighting and its economic impact headed into the midterm elections.

In the latest test of congressional Republicans' patience with Trump's war in Iran, a Democratic-backed measure to rein in the president's war powers passed 214-208 in the narrowly divided chamber Thursday, but all but four GOP House lawmakers voted against the resolution. That marked no change from a tally last month that also gauged support for the president's handling of the conflict.

The resolution is largely symbolic as it would also have to pass the Senate and would be subject to Trump's veto, but it provides a view into where lawmakers stand on the war. Backers of Trump said he needed to address what they see as an existential threat from Tehran.

"Nuclear holocaust is much more unaffordable than gas. How about that? We'll start there, and...I'll go a step further. If you don't deal with it now, you're going to deal with it later," said Rep. Rich McCormick (R., Ga.).

"We do not need them to have nuclear capabilities," said Rep. Tim Burchett (R., Tenn.). "If you want a holy war, you're going to get it with them."

But Reps. Warren Davidson of Ohio, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Tom Barrett of Michigan and Thomas Massie of Kentucky joined the House Democrats in trying to restrict Trump's powers. The same four backed a similar war-powers measure in early June.

"I voted every single time to support, after 60 days, to end the war, and we're going to do it again," Fitzpatrick said ahead of the vote.

"American servicemen and women are dying, and gas and fertilizer prices are soaring. It's time to end this war," Massie said on X.

The vote came a day after the GOP-led House advanced a framework to provide tens of billions in new Pentagon funding sought by the White House.

The conflict started in February, with Trump aiming to topple the Iranian regime, cripple its ballistic-missile systems and force it to surrender its nuclear program. Tensions spiked in recent days after an Iranian missile killed three U.S. soldiers in Jordan over the weekend. The U.S. has surged forces, medics and weaponry to the Middle East to provide the president more-muscular military options as he considers expanding the conflict against Iran.

Oil prices climbed back to $100 a barrel on Thursday morning, sending stocks sliding, after the Tehran-backed Houthi militants claimed attacks on two Saudi tankers in the Red Sea. Gas prices have hit an average $4.09 a gallon nationwide, according to AAA, as Americans travel during peak summer-travel season.

Thursday's House measure, introduced by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D., Wash.) directed Trump "to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities against Iran or any part of its government or military unless a declaration of war or authorization to use military force for such purpose has been enacted."

On Wednesday, the House passed the framework for a $95 billion budget, which includes an extra $73 billion in defense and intelligence funding, parts of which would fund the war.

Some Republican lawmakers aired concerns that voting for additional defense funding would be legally interpreted as a seal of approval from Congress for the war itself. Others called on the Pentagon for more information, including costs and strategy on how to bring it to an end. Fitzpatrick said that although he supported Wednesday's framework to pay the troops, he didn't support the war.

Fitzpatrick is among the GOP lawmakers in contested House seats Republicans must hold to have any chance at preserving their majority in the House. The GOP currently has a 219-212 majority, which includes one independent who caucuses with Republicans.

New polling has shown Republicans are facing an uphill fight to keep the House. A Fox News poll released this week found 53% of voters would back the Democratic candidate in their House district, while 46% would back the Republican. Fox said 53% was the highest percentage either party has received on that question since 1996.

In the poll, 66% disapproved of Trump's handling of the war in Iran.

Both House and Senate Democrats largely remained in lockstep on Thursday's war powers vote. They criticized Trump's military campaign in Iran as a failure that has resulted in the unnecessary deaths of American servicemembers and Iranian civilians.

"Americans are done with endless conflict in the Middle East. Folks are struggling to get by at home and don't want their taxpayer dollars being sent to fight more wars abroad," said Rep. Jason Crow (D., Colo.).

Write to Terell Wright at terell.wright@wsj.com and Maya Davis at maya.davis@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

July 23, 2026 11:45 ET (15:45 GMT)

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