The Senate advanced a resolution Thursday that would limit President Trump's ability to conduct further attacks against Venezuela, sounding a note of disapproval for his expanding ambitions in the Western Hemisphere. Democrats and five Republicans voted to advance the war powers resolution on a 52-47 vote and ensure a vote next week on final passage. It has virtually no chance of becoming law because Trump would have to sign it if it were to pass the Republican-controlled House. Still, it was a significant gesture that showed unease among some Republicans after the US military seized Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in a surprise nighttime raid, the AP reports.
Trump's administration is now seeking to control Venezuela's oil resources and its government, but the war powers resolution would require congressional approval for any further attacks on the South American country. "To me, this is all about going forward," said Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, one of the five Republican votes. "If the president should determine, 'You know what? I need to put troops on the ground of Venezuela.' I think that would require Congress to weigh in." The other Republicans who backed the resolution were Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, and Todd Young of Indiana.
- In a Truth Social post, Trump lashed out at the five Republicans, saying "they should never be elected to office again." "Republicans should be ashamed of the Senators that just voted with Democrats in attempting to take away our Powers to fight and defend the United States of America," he wrote. "This Vote greatly hampers American Self Defense and National Security, impeding the President's Authority as Commander in Chief."
- Democrats had failed to pass several such resolutions in the months that Trump escalated his campaign against Venezuela. A vote on a similar resolution in November narrowly failed to gain the majority needed for passage. Paul and Murkowski were the only Republicans voting in favor then. But lawmakers argued that now that Trump has captured Maduro and set his sights to other conquests such as Greenland, the vote presents the Republican-controlled Congress with an opportunity. "It's time for Congress to assert its control over military action of this kind, and it's time to get this out of secrecy and put it in the light," said Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, who forced the vote.
- Under the Constitution, Congress declares war while the president serves as commander in chief. But lawmakers have not formally declared war since World War II, granting presidents broad latitude to act unilaterally. Congress attempted to rein in that authority after the Vietnam War with the War Powers Resolution, passed over Richard Nixon's veto. The law requires presidents to notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying forces and to end military action within 60 to 90 days absent authorization—limits that presidents of both parties have routinely stretched. Democrats argue those limits are being pushed further than ever. Some Republicans have gone further still, contending congressional approval is unnecessary altogether.
,
uBlock 
,
and
Ghostery 
)
