An effort to bar President Donald Trump from aiding Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon led by Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) split the Democratic caucus Thursday over concerns about how the text was drafted.The measure, which failed 92-324, was supported by a coalition of progressive Democrats and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), a Trump critic who opposes military action abroad. House Democratic leadership, including Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA), opposed the measure, exposing a rift between leadership and progressive members. Ultimately, 117 Democrats joined 205 Republicans in voting against the measure.
“As demonstrated yesterday, House Democrats are committed to ending Donald Trump’s reckless and costly war of choice in Iran,” Democratic leadership wrote in the statement. “We also do not support any effort by the Trump administration to entangle the United States in a war in Lebanon or other parts of the Middle East.”
Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) asserted the resolution would have “put U.S. embassy personnel at risk and interfere with our efforts to fight terrorism across the globe.”
“The small number of U.S. forces stationed in Lebanon are there to protect our embassy in Beirut, assist with Lebanon’s military training and readiness, and help Lebanon prevent Hezbollah, ISIS, and Al-Qaeda-linked violence so that innocent civilians may have the opportunity to live in peace,” Stevens wrote in a statement.
