Trump defense chief immediately fact-checked on novel way to dance around War Powers act

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth made a unique claim during his U.S. Senate hearing on Thursday that at least one Democrat said isn't in the law.

Speaking about the Iran War, Hegseth told Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) that when there is a ceasefire, the war is paused and that means that the laws that require the president to only wage war for 60 days don't count those days as part of the time limit.

The carefully worded question from Kaine was: "The War Powers Resolution specifies that a war initiated by a president without congressional approval must be concluded within 60 days. It can be extended by an additional 30 days, if 'The president determines and certifies to Congress in writing that unavoidable military necessity respecting the safety of the U.S. armed forces requires the continued use of such armed forces in the course of bringing about a prompt removal of such forces.' We're right at the 60-day deadline. Is the president intending to either seek congressional authorization for the war in Iran or send us the legally required certification that he needs an additional 30 days to remove U.S. forces from the war?"

Hegseth began by saying that he would defer to the White House counsel on the matter.

"However, we are in a ceasefire right now, which, in our understanding, means the 60-day clock pauses or stops in a ceasefire," he claimed. "That's it's our understanding, just so you know."

Kaine clarified, "Well, I do not believe the statute would support that."

MS NOW host Chris Jansing drew attention to the comments. After a commercial break she read the text of the "War Powers Resolution" requirements.

"The War Powers Resolution provides for the automatic termination of the use of U.S. forces engaged in hostilities 60 days after the president has reported or was required to report on the use of force," she read.

"So, again, I think this will not be the only time that we hear that conversation in this hearing," she added.

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