House votes to block Saudi arms sales

WASHINGTON — The House joined the Senate in voting to block arms sales to Saudi Arabia, a rejection of President Donald Trump’s decision to break congressional holds on the sales, which sets up the third veto of the president’s administration.

The chamber passed three measures that are part of a package of 22 resolutions to end the emergency declaration that the Trump administration used to push through $8 billion in arms sales to Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and other countries. All three of the resolutions received some Republican support, but not enough to override a promised veto by Trump.

Members of both parties criticized Trump’s use of the emergency declaration and have urged stronger consequences for Saudi Arabia’s role in the killing of columnist Jamal Khashoggi last year. Lawmakers are also increasingly questioning the Saudi-led war in Yemen that has resulted in one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

Foreign policy is one of the few areas where Trump has faced some resistance from congressional Republicans, particularly his approach to Saudi Arabia. Trump has cultivated a close relationship with the kingdom — it was the first country he visited as president and he has described the traditional, if troubled, ally as a bulwark against Iran’s malign activity in the region.

The Trump administration issued a veto threat for all three measures.