Could Donald Trump veto the Russian sanctions bill despite House vote?

The House of Representatives have overwhelmingly voted for fresh sanctions against Russia, Iran and North Korea, but the wording of the bill directly challenges the authority of President Trump.

The bill gives Congress power to block any effort by the White House should they attempt to weaken the sanctions, something Trump has signalled he would like to do.

The Senate is yet to vote on the measure, but with the House passing it 419-3, there not much opposition – although some tweaks are expected.

Rep. Ed Royce, who heads the House Foreign Affairs Committee said: "This is a strong, bipartisan bill that will increase the United States' economic and political leverage."

Despite the bipartisan support, the bill, if it clears the Senate, will require the signature of Donald Trump.

The White House has given mixed views on this matter so far.

Press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders suggested that the president would back the bill, but the newly installed communications director Anthony Scaramucci said that Trump may want to "weigh in on the issue".

The Trump administration has tried to weaken the bill, but failed in its attempts to do so.

Rep. Eliot Engel, D-New York, who is the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said: "It's not just a Russia sanctions bill – it's North Korea, it's Iran. I happen to believe all three countries should be sanctioned."

Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle have said that if Trump does decide to veto the sanctions bill there will be sufficient votes to override the veto and enact the bill into law.

Rep. Adam Kinzinger, (R-Ill) said: "We're sending a message to Moscow.

"But if the president had any intention of trying to give Vladimir Putin what he wants on certain areas, I think he'll think twice about it."