Senate to debate resolution limiting 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 to send the measure to the floor for debate. The measure would require Mr. Trump to seek congressional authorization for continued U.S.

military operations in Venezuela. The move was described as largely symbolic: the House is unlikely to approve the measure and the president could veto it. The vote was framed as a rare assertion of congressional authority and reflected concerns in Mr. Trump’s own party about what lawmakers called bellicose, open-ended action taken without consultation with Congress.

Senator Rand Paul said the president’s comment that the United States might remain involved in Venezuela for years helped tip the vote and that it sent “a clear signal” that only Congress could order the country to go to war. Mr. Trump has argued that the War Powers Act is unconstitutional, while supporters of the act say only Congress has the power to declare war.

Mr. Trump immediately attacked the five Republican senators who voted to advance the measure on social media, writing, “Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Rand Paul, Josh Hawley, and Todd Young should never be elected to office again.” Ms. Collins is the only one of the five up for re-election this year and is expected to face a competitive race.

Key Topics

Politics, Donald Trump, Venezuela, War Powers Act, U.s. Senate, Rand Paul