Senate advances debate on resolution to limit Trump’s military actions in Venezuela

The Senate on Thursday voted 52-to-47 to advance a war powers resolution aimed at curbing President Trump’s use of military force in Venezuela, with five Republicans joining Democrats in a rare bipartisan rebuke of the White House. The vote sent the measure to the floor for a debate expected next week; the resolution would require Mr.

Trump to seek congressional authorization for continued U.S. military operations in Venezuela. The move was described in the coverage as largely symbolic because the House is unlikely to approve the measure and Mr. Trump could veto it if it reached his desk. Lawmakers framed the vote as a rare assertion of congressional authority and a response to concerns about what critics called bellicose, open-ended action taken without consultation.

The five Republicans who voted to advance the measure were named as Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Rand Paul, Josh Hawley and Todd Young. Mr. Trump attacked those senators on social media, writing, "Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Rand Paul, Josh Hawley, and Todd Young should never be elected to office again." Senator Paul said the president’s comment to The New York Times that the United States might remain involved in Venezuela for years helped prompt the vote and that it sent "a clear signal" that only Congress could order the country to go to war.

Key Topics

Politics, Donald Trump, Venezuela, United States Senate, War Powers Act, Susan Collins