Senate clears resolution to restrain Trump from further military action in Venezuela

The Senate on Thursday moved to block President Donald Trump from taking military action in Venezuela, just five days after US forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro from Caracas. In a stunning defeat for the president, the upper chamber adopted the “War Powers resolution” by a 52-47 vote to force Trump to end hostilities toward Venezuela, but it still must clear the House. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), who had initially proposed the resolution, reintroduced it last month along with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), after Trump amassed military assets in the region and greenlit dozens of strikes against alleged drug boats.

“In the Senate, we Democrats are fighting to prevent military adventurism in Venezuela and other countries and endless wars,” Schumer told reporters ahead of the vote.

“Donald Trump said last night in his interview with The New York Times. It could take years to solve the problem in Venezuela. That is not what Americans want.”

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Under the War Powers Act, Congress can adopt a resolution to stop a president from engaging in a military conflict without the consent of the legislative branch.

Trump reacted to the development and said Republicans should be ashamed of the Senators that just voted with Democrats on the resolution.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, “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. Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Rand Paul, Josh Hawley, and Todd Young should never be elected to office again.”

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“This Vote greatly hampers American Self Defense and National Security, impeding the President’s Authority as Commander in Chief. In any event, and despite their “stupidity,” the War Powers Act is Unconstitutional, totally violating Article II of the Constitution, as all Presidents, and their Departments of Justice, have determined before me. Nevertheless, a more important Senate Vote will be taking place next week on this very subject.”

The White House also opposed the measure, arguing that it would undermine the authority of Trump as commander-in-chief.

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“The actions of our Armed Forces have been directed by the President consistent with his inherent responsibility to protect US citizens both at home and abroad,” the White House said in a memo.

Last year, Congress repealed the Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMFs) for the Gulf War and the 2003 invasion of Iraq in passing the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act.

The Trump administration defended the capture of Maduro as a law enforcement endeavour, pointing to the federal indictment against the Venezuelan leader on drug and weapons charges.

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Trump’s team is seeking to leverage its oil quarantine of Venezuela to pressure its current leader, Delcy Rodriguez, into making changes, but questions remain about the longer-term strategy to restore democracy in Venezuela.

“We will rebuild it in a very profitable way,” Trump said in an interview on Wednesday. “We’re going to be using oil, and we’re going to be taking oil.”

“We’re getting oil prices down, and we’re going to be giving money to Venezuela, which they desperately need.”

Lawmakers are also eyeing other war powers resolutions to stop Trump from taking military action against Iran or to acquire Greenland.