U.S. Senate Republicans thwarted a resolution on Wednesday that aimed to prevent U.S. President Donald Trump from engaging in further military actions in Venezuela without Congress’s approval, following pressure from the Republican president on party members who had backed it. The vote stood at 51-50 for a Republican motion to dismiss the war powers resolution, with just three of Trump’s Republicans aligning with all Democrats in support of proceeding, while Vice President JD Vance intervened to break the tie.
Critics contended that the resolution should not advance since there are currently no U.S. troops on Venezuelan soil, after American forces entered Caracas on January 3 and apprehended Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. “We’re not currently conducting military operations there,” stated Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota during the Senate session. He accused Democrats of pushing the bill due to their relentless opposition to Trump.
The Trump administration defended the capture of Maduro as a legal operation to bring him to trial in the U.S. on drug-related charges, rather than a military move. However, proponents of the war powers resolution argued otherwise, pointing out the significant U.S. naval presence blockading Venezuela and engaging in confrontations in the Caribbean and Pacific regions. They highlighted Trump’s threats of additional military actions.
Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, a key proponent of the resolution, denounced the argument that the Venezuela situation did not constitute imminent hostilities as defined by the war powers resolution. The close voting pattern underscored congressional unease, including from some Republicans, regarding Trump’s foreign policy and the growing belief that the power to deploy U.S. troops should rest with Congress as stipulated in the Constitution.
In the lead-up to removing Maduro from power through a U.S. military mission, Trump administration lawyers sanctioned the operation, deeming it compatible with national interests and not amounting to a formal declaration of war. The legal opinion, dated December 23, justified the action citing various reasons, including the need to safeguard civilians and law enforcement personnel.
Trump’s influence over his party was evident in the Senate vote, particularly following the rare defection of five Republicans who supported advancing the resolution a week earlier. Trump’s strong reaction to their stance included condemning them and urging against their re-election. Ultimately, the resolution’s defeat signified the prevailing sway Trump holds over his party members in the Senate.