Trump claims other presidents flouted war powers law. It's a mixed record

Trump claims other presidents flouted war powers law. It's a mixed recordJust nowShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleDaniel BushWashington correspondentTrump claims congressional approval for war 'has never been sought before'President Donald Trump has insisted he doesn't need congressional authorisation to continue the war with Iran, arguing that past US commanders-in-chief didn't seek such approval.As a critical two-month deadline for the war expired on Friday, Trump said his predecessors considered Congress' authority to limit a president's war powers as "totally unconstitutional"."So many presidents, as you know, have gone and exceeded it," Trump said when asked if he would seek congressional authorisation."It's never been used. It's never been adhered to.""Nobody's ever asked for it before," Trump added.The reality is more complicated, however.Trump is required by a 1973 war powers resolution to "terminate any use of United States Armed Forces" in Iran 60 days after notifying Congress of the start of the war, unless lawmakers vote to continue the conflict. The legislation was passed to limit the ability of then-President Richard Nixon to continue waging war in Vietnam.Friday marked the 60th day since 28 February, when the administration notified lawmakers of the strikes against Tehran.Trump and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth argue that under the 1973 law the clock on the deadline was paused while the current ceasefire is in effect.It has sparked a debate about whether or not the ceasefire counts towards the 60-day deadline.Regardless, some of Trump's recent predecessors sought to comply with war powers authority vested in Congress.In 1983, President Ronald Reagan received congressional approval to deploy US Marines in Lebanon inside of the 60-day notification window, ensuring the military campaign complied with the law.Reuters(L-R): George HW Bush, Barack Oba...