This archive report was first published on 6 January 2020.
US President Donald Trump has sparked controversy by stating that he does not need Congressional approval for military action, even for a 'disproportionate' strike, following the killing of top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani on January 3, 2020.
Trump's comments came as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi led a backlash against the President's decision to authorise a drone strike against Soleimani in Baghdad, an operation that Trump only officially informed Congress about on Saturday, nearly 48 hours after the event.
Two Democratic lawmakers announced on Sunday that they would introduce a new resolution before the House of Representatives that they said would prevent Trump from unilaterally leading the United States into a war against Iran.
However, a defiant Trump made light of the calls for him to get Congressional approval in any future military action, saying such notice was 'not required'.
"These Media Posts will serve as notification to the United States Congress that should Iran strike any US person or target, the United States will quickly & fully strike back, & perhaps in a disproportionate manner," Trump wrote in a tweet.
"Such legal notice is not required, but is given nevertheless!" he added.
