For the first time, the U.S. House of Representatives has passed a war powers resolution designed to stop American military operations against Iran, challenging President Donald Trump as several Republicans crossed party lines to join Democrats in ending the three-month conflict that has reshaped domestic and international politics.
At the same time, the Republican-controlled Senate is advancing legislation to provide funding for immigration enforcement agencies. This comes after they compelled the Trump administration to announce it would abandon its settlement fund for political allies and removed a separate White House security proposal from the bill.
Additionally, Trump announced Wednesday his intention to nominate Todd Blanche as attorney general, selecting his former personal attorney who has vigorously advanced the Republican president’s priorities while serving in an acting capacity at the Justice Department.
An unusual attraction has emerged at Bangladesh’s national zoo: an albino buffalo named Donald Trump, whose golden hair and 700-kilogram (1,500-pound) frame has been drawing visitors from across the country since his arrival last week.
The unusual pale buffalo gained fame after a farmer observed that his blonde hair tuft bore a striking resemblance to the American president’s signature hairstyle. Following a viral social media video of the light-colored horned animal, crowds began flocking to the farm outside Dhaka to witness him firsthand.
Originally destined for slaughter during the Muslim festival of sacrifice, the animal was relocated to the capital’s zoo due to security considerations, where large crowds now endure intense heat to see him.
“There is a resemblance to Donald Trump in its eyes, hairstyle, and skin color,” said Mohammed Nasim, a student in Dhaka. “And just as Donald Trump has a distinctive personality and lifestyle, this buffalo, after going viral, is now living a similar kind of life, enjoying a lot of attention and special treatment.”
The president dismissed the symbolic House vote on the war powers resolution as “meaningless.”
However, Trump expressed anger that four House Republicans sided with Democrats in supporting the measure.
“The Democrats are fueled by Trump Derangement Syndrome,” Trump said in a post on his social media site. “They would rather have our Country fail than give me another, of many, victories. The four Republicans, that’s a whole other story – They’re GRANDSTANDERS! They should be ashamed of themselves.”
Bessent declined to specify Wednesday whether Trump and his family would continue receiving immunity from IRS audits following the administration’s decision to scrap plans for a $1.776 billion compensation fund that would have benefited the president’s allies.
“There’s continuing litigation, and I’m unable to comment on ongoing litigation,” Bessent told lawmakers at the Senate Finance Committee hearing.
This response frustrated Democratic lawmakers seeking clarity from Bessent during a hearing supposedly centered on the Treasury Department’s budget. The hearing occurred one day after acting Attorney General Todd Blanche appeared to suggest that the settlement’s IRS audit immunity provision would remain active for the Republican president.
Following multiple unsuccessful attempts to obtain an answer from Bessent, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., said, “It’s been very clear you’re dodging this and you’re trying to use it as an excuse. It’s just outrageous on behalf of the American public.”
Trump announced Wednesday his plan to nominate Todd Blanche as attorney general, choosing his former personal attorney who has zealously promoted the Republican president’s agenda while heading the Justice Department in an acting capacity.
During a White House dinner, Trump revealed his intention to formally nominate Blanche on Thursday, based on a video of the gathering shared on social media by a White House aide.
“We are going to make him permanent attorney general,” Trump said at the Rose Garden event.
Blanche joined the Justice Department as deputy attorney general and was promoted following Bondi’s removal after her unsuccessful attempts to prosecute Trump’s perceived political adversaries. While Blanche maintained he wasn’t campaigning for the permanent position, his high-profile actions since assuming leadership clearly demonstrated his commitment to proving his allegiance to Trump.
The Republican-controlled Senate is proceeding with legislation to fund immigration enforcement agencies after compelling the Trump administration to announce it would eliminate its settlement fund for political allies and removing a separate White House security provision from the bill.
Wednesday’s Senate vote of 53-46 initiated debate on the approximately $70 billion bill to fund U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Border Patrol. The legislation faced weeks of delays as Republican senators worked through various passage obstacles created by President Donald Trump and the White House, but they are now moving rapidly toward approval after reducing it to its original scope.
“Right now, the goal is to get the base bill across the finish line,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D.
Nevertheless, Republicans must secure sufficient votes to defeat multiple amendments that Democrats — and some Republicans — pledge to propose for permanently prohibiting Trump’s $1.776 billion settlement fund.
Trump is receiving warnings from both opponents and supporters that he’s becoming trapped regarding the Iran conflict, a military engagement he promoted as a short-term operation but which has evolved into a stalemate.
Nearly a week has passed since U.S. and Iranian negotiators reached a preliminary agreement to extend the conflict’s ceasefire by 60 days and begin new discussions on Iran’s nuclear program, requiring Trump’s approval.
Yet Trump has demanded unspecified modifications to the agreement, and Iranian officials — possibly calculating that he is hesitant to resume bombing after depleting key weapons systems — show no indication of yielding to new demands.
Recent strikes by both the U.S. and Iran this week have heightened concerns that the ceasefire might fail. Trump minimized the importance on Wednesday.
Growing worry exists within the administration and among key advisers and allies that Trump now faces a difficult situation, according to a U.S. official and another person familiar with the administration’s internal discussions.
Wednesday marked the first time the House passed a war powers resolution aimed at stopping U.S. military action against Iran, challenging Trump as several Republicans joined Democrats to end the three-month conflict that has transformed politics domestically and internationally.
House Speaker Mike Johnson had attempted to avoid an outcome demonstrating increasing opposition to the conflict, abruptly halting floor proceedings two weeks earlier when the resolution neared approval. However, dissatisfaction has only intensified as the conflict continues and Trump struggles to negotiate a peace plan.
“Enough is enough,” said Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who led the effort.
“It is time for the president to do the right thing,” he said. “The people are tired of suffering because of his war of choice — suffering at the gas pump, suffering at the supermarkets.”
