US Senate votes to block Trump from more military action in Venezuela
The War Powers Resolution needed only a simple majority to pass the Republican-controlled Senate. As CNBC noted, the measure would force Trump to seek approval from Congress before using the U.S. military in Venezuela again. The resolution was introduced by Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia and Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky.
Senate vote support
The Senate vote was a procedural vote, not final, but it shows the measure has enough support to move on to a final vote. After the Senate vote, the measure is expected to go to the House of Representatives. Republicans have only a tiny majority in the House of Representatives. Later Thursday, Trump harshly criticized Republicans who voted with Democrats.
“Republicans should be ashamed of Senators who vote with Democrats when they are trying to take away our powers to fight and defend the United States of America,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. Trump named five Republican senators who supported the measure, as noted by CNBC. The five Republicans were Rand Paul, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Josh Hawley of Missouri and Todd Young of Indiana.
Trump wrote that these senators “should never be elected to office again.” Sen. Susan Collins responded to Trump’s post while speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill. “I guess that means he’d rather have [Maine’s Democratic Gov. Janet] Mills or someone else he doesn’t have a very good relationship with,” Collins said. Senator Rand Paul said the attack on Venezuela was clearly an act of war. “Make no mistake, bombing another country’s capital and eliminating its leaders is an act of war, plain and simple. “No provision in the Constitution gives the presidency such authority,” Paul said.
Congressional war powers
The US Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war. Trump and his allies in Congress argued that he did not need Congressional approval for the attack. They said the action that captured Maduro was a law enforcement operation and not an act of war as CNBC stated. Nicolás Maduro is currently facing drug-related charges in New York. The Senate rejected a similar War Powers resolution in November.
There were only two Republicans, Paul and Murkowski, who backed Democrats on the November ballot. Before the operation to capture Maduro, Trump said, “While I support the operation to capture Nicolas Maduro, which is extraordinary in its precision and complexity, I do not support sending additional U.S. forces or engaging in any long-term military intervention in Venezuela or Greenland without specific authorization from Congress.”
FAQ
Q1. Why did the US Senate block Trump’s military action in Venezuela?
The Senate has said the president must get approval from Congress before using U.S. military force in Venezuela.
Q2. What happens if the War Powers Resolution becomes law?
Trump will need permission from Congress before taking any new military action in Venezuela.
