sixty days later, we have more questions than answers about trump’s war with iran
On May 1, Donald Trump’s war with Iran will reach its sixtieth day – far exceeding the timeline he originally set and crossing the legal threshold beyond which a president must obtain explicit congressional authorization for further military action. While Trump has so far ignored constitutional limits on his authority, this marks an important test for Republicans in Congress – many of whom pledged to rein in Trump’s warmaking if we reached this point.
Sixty days into this war, we’re no closer to a resolution. As Trump’s Department of Defense leadership testifies publicly this week before Congress for the first time since the war began, there are more questions than ever about this costly, unnecessary conflict.
Will Republicans help bring this costly, unnecessary war to a close? Or will they continue to stand by while Trump keeps American service members in harm’s way, drives up costs for American households, and puts the global economy at risk?
Trump has repeatedly pledged that the war would be resolved quickly – a promise that he has made and broken dozens of times.
The American people overwhelmingly oppose this conflict and want to see it come to an end as soon as possible – but Republicans in Congress continue to block efforts to end the war despite emerging cracks in their coalition.
A growing number of Republican Senators are beginning to raise questions about the duration of the war and the President’s lack of congressional authorization, even as others have signaled a desire to expand the conflict.
What has actually been accomplished in this war?
Trump’s justifications have been inconsistent and ever-changing, but the results are clear: Trump has led the U.S. into a strategic quagmire with no end in sight and ever-deepening costs that Americans have to bear.
The regime is still in power. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth can’t get straight whether or not Iran’s nuclear program has been destroyed. Iran retains thousands of missiles and drones, along with its proxy networks. And it now controls the Strait of Hormuz.
Given these facts, how can this war be viewed as anything but a failure?
What exactly is Trump’s end game?
Sixty days into this conflict, the administration has yet to articulate a coherent strategy or explain how this war actually ends.
Without clear objectives, measurable benchmarks, or a defined exit strategy, how can the American people have any confidence that this war won’t drag on indefinitely?
How much is this costing the American people?
The administration refused for weeks to provide a full accounting of the war’s cost so far, but estimates suggest the cost could be as high as $35 billion – billions more than the $25 billion price tag the Department of Defense revealed today for the first time.
Now, the White House may request as much as an additional $200 billion from Congress to continue funding the conflict.
How much more will taxpayers be asked to spend on a war no one voted for? And how long will we continue paying for it? Experts suggest the costs could drag on for years.
How long will Americans be forced to pay the price at the pump and the grocery store?
Gas prices have surged past $4 a gallon, with no relief in sight. Many experts don’t expect gas prices to drop below $3 a gallon this year – even if the war comes to a close.
The Strait of Hormuz is also a major transit point for much of the world’s fertilizer, with potentially disastrous consequences for food production. American farmers are being forced to scale back crop planting due to high fertilizer costs, which will drive up already-high grocery prices.
How much longer will American families bear the economic burden of Trump’s war of choice?
How long does Trump intend to blockade the Strait of Hormuz?
The president is reportedly preparing for an extended blockade of Iran, prolonging a conflict that has already driven up gas prices and kept American service members deployed overseas for record-breaking periods.
Is Trump prepared to pursue an open-ended blockade – costing taxpayers billions and further jeopardizing the global economy, while offering no clear path to ending the war?
What has this war done to U.S. military readiness?
Reports suggest that Trump’s war with Iran has significantly drained much of the U.S. military’s global supply of munitions, and forced the Pentagon to rush bombs, missiles, and other hardware to the Middle East from commands in Asia and Europe.
Has this conflict left the United States less prepared to defend ourselves, respond to other crises, or deter our adversaries?
Ultimately, was any of this really necessary?
Thirteen American service members are dead. Billions of dollars have been spent. Critical munitions have been depleted. Gas prices are rising. Americans are bearing the economic burden. The global economy is under strain. And yet, the Iranian regime remains in power and its nuclear material remains intact.
Trump claims to be a master dealmaker. Wouldn’t sustained, hard-nosed diplomacy have delivered a better outcome than this unnecessary war?
What war will Trump start next?
Trump is intoxicated with military power – launching strikes impulsively and dangerously – treating military force as a first resort rather than a last.
Now, he is openly musing about launching a conflict with Cuba. Has this administration normalized the use of military force as a first resort rather than a last? Where will he choose to strike next?
Published: April 2026