A war of words erupted Friday between Republican lawmakers after House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) insisted the United States is not at war following recent strikes in Iran.
Johnson made the comments a day after the House of Representatives blocked a war powers resolution that would have required congressional approval for additional military action in the Middle East. The House voted 212-219 against the measure after the Senate defeated a similar proposal, according to Newsweek.
“We are not at war,” Johnson said. “We have no intention of being at war.”
The House speaker’s claim didn’t sit well with Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), who quickly fired back on social media.
“Excuse me, this is war,” Massie wrote Friday on X. “Even those in favor of it will admit that much.”
He added, “Changing the real meaning of words does not relieve Congress of its Constitutional duty to authorize War.”
Massie has repeatedly argued that Congress must authorize military action under the Constitution’s war powers provisions. He and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) sponsored what became known as the War Powers Resolutions.
"We are not at war," Johnson said. "We have no intention of being at war."
Excuse me, this is war. Even those in favor of it will admit that much.
Changing the real meaning of words does not relieve Congress of its Constitutional duty to authorize War.https://t.co/vUApwmJHr6
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) March 6, 2026
