Poli Alert Politics & Civics
Related Articles
The Senate on Thursday issued a rare bipartisan rebuke of President Donald Trump, voting to advance a resolution that would bar him from using U.S. military force “within or against Venezuela” without prior approval from Congress.
The 52–47 vote came over objections from Republican leaders and amid escalating rhetoric from Trump, who has threatened a “second wave” of attacks on Venezuela and declared the United States would temporarily “run” the country following a U.S. operation last week to capture and extradite Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
Five Republicans joined all 47 Democrats to advance the War Powers resolution, setting up a full Senate vote next week that is expected to pass by a simple majority.
The legislation, authored by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and co-sponsored by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., represents one of the clearest congressional efforts yet to reassert its constitutional authority over war-making.
“President Trump started a war with Venezuela without a debate or a vote in Congress,” Kaine said. “That is illegal, unconstitutional and profoundly disrespectful to our troops.”
A message, not a law
The resolution faces long odds of becoming law. Even if it passes the Senate, it would still need House approval and Trump’s signature — both unlikely. But the vote sends a political and institutional warning shot to the White House that could constrain Trump’s future military moves, in Venezuela and beyond.
“To my colleagues: Enough is enough,” Kaine said. “No war without a debate and vote in Congress.”
The Republicans who voted to advance the measure were Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Todd Young of Indiana and Josh Hawley of Missouri, alongside Paul.
Paul rejected the administration’s claim that the operation against Maduro amounted to a law enforcement action.
“Bombing another nation’s capital and removing its leader is an act of war, plain and simple,” Paul said. “No provision in the Constitution grants that power to the presidency.”
Trump lashes out
Trump responded angrily, accusing the five Republicans of undermining national security and vowing political retribution.
“Republicans should be ashamed,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, calling the vote “stupidity” and warning that the senators “should never be elected to office again.”
The president argued that the resolution would weaken his authority as commander in chief, even as he has floated the possibility of U.S. boots on the ground in Venezuela and issued threats toward Iran, Greenland and Colombia, while warning that Cuba “is ready to fall.”
Collins said Trump’s comments made congressional action unavoidable.
“Invoking the War Powers Act at this moment is necessary,” she said, citing the president’s talk of sustained U.S. involvement and effectively governing Venezuela.
Murkowski said Congress must “affirm our role under Article I” of the Constitution.
GOP leaders push back
Ahead of the vote, Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., urged Republicans to oppose the measure, framing the Maduro operation as a limited law enforcement action rather than an act of war.
“This does not make America stronger,” Barrasso said in a statement. “It weakens the president’s legitimate constitutional authority.”
But the bipartisan vote underscores growing discomfort — even within Trump’s party — over the scope of his unilateral use of military force, particularly as the White House signals a willingness to expand operations abroad without congressional consent.
