GOP senators break with Trump to rein in use of military without Congress’ approval

WASHINGTON— Five Senate Republicans parted ways with their party leaders Thursday to advance legislation that would rein in President Trump’s use of the U.S. military in Venezuela; This comes as a growing number of GOP lawmakers express unease over the White House’s threat to use force to seize Greenland.

The procedural vote, which came over the objections of Republican leaders, sets the stage for a full vote in the Senate next week on a measure that would prevent Trump from using military force “in or against Venezuela” without approval from Congress. Even with Senate approval, the bill is unlikely to become law because it is unlikely to pass the House, and President Trump, who has veto power over the legislation, has publicly condemned the measure and the Republicans who support it.

“This vote greatly impedes American Self-Defense and National Security and impedes the President’s authority as Commander in Chief,” Trump wrote in a social media post shortly after the 52-47 Senate vote.

Republicans’ departure on the issue underscores growing concern among GOP lawmakers about the Trump administration’s foreign policy ambitions and underscores bipartisan concern that the president is testing the limits of his executive war powers not just in Venezuela but also in Greenland, a semi-autonomous region of U.S. ally Denmark.

Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), one of the Republicans who voted for the resolution, said that while she supports the operation that led to the capture and extradition of Nicolás Maduro, she “does not support sending additional US forces or engaging in any long-term military intervention in Venezuela or Greenland without specific authorization from Congress.”

The resolution is co-sponsored by Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (DY). Republicans supporting him included Sens. Collins, Paul, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Todd Young of Indiana and Josh Hawley of Missouri.

“Finally, the Senate is exercising its constitutional authority to authorize the use of force to prevent America from being dragged into another war over oil,” Schiff said. A social media post after the vote.

Vice President J.D. Vance told reporters at the White House on Thursday that he was not concerned about Trump losing support among Republican lawmakers in Washington, adding that passage of the resolution in the Senate “won’t change anything about how we conduct foreign policy in the next few weeks or several months.”

But Republican support for the resolution reflects deepening concern among Republicans about President Trump’s foreign policy plans, especially his threats to seize Greenland. The move prompted European leaders earlier this week to call on the United States to respect the sovereignty of the Arctic region.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told reporters Wednesday that he does not believe “anyone is seriously considering” using the military to seize control of Greenland, a semi-autonomous region of U.S. ally Denmark.

“We’re definitely not in Congress,” Johnson said.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R.S.D.) struck a similar tone the same day, telling reporters that he “does not see military intervention as an option” in Greenland.

Other GOP lawmakers were more openly critical, warning that even broaching the idea of ​​using force against a member of NATO, a defense alliance that includes the United States, risked weakening America’s standing on the world stage.

“Threats and intimidations by U.S. officials regarding American ownership of Greenland are not only inappropriate but counterproductive,” Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said in a statement. “And the use of force to seize the sovereign democratic territory of one of America’s most loyal and capable allies would be a particularly catastrophic act of strategic self-harm to America and its global influence.”

The White House said Tuesday that seizing Greenland is a “national security priority” and using the U.S. military to achieve that goal is “always an option.” A day earlier, Trump’s deputy chief of staff for policy, Stephen Miller, he told CNN “Greenland should be part of the United States.”

“No one is going to fight the United States militarily over the future of Greenland,” Miller said.

Miller’s remarks angered Republican senators, including Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), who called the idea of ​​invading Greenland “weapons-level stupid” in an interview with CNN on Wednesday.

Sen., who has served as the top Republican on the Senate NATO Observer Group since 2018. Thom Tillis (RN.C) also criticized this idea in his harsh speech in the Senate.

“I’m tired of the stupidity,” Tillis said. “I want good advice for this president, because I want this president to have a good legacy. And this nonsense about what’s going on in Greenland distracts from the good work he’s doing, and amateurs who say this is a good idea should lose their jobs.”

Tillis, who is not seeking re-election this year, later told CNN that Miller needs to “go down a path where he knows what he’s talking about or get out of this.”