After a War Powers Resolution was approved by the U.S. Senate just days ago, aimed at curbing President Trump’s ability to order further military strikes on Venezuela, the same measure is at risk of being overturned, as the White House has increased pressure on the five Republicans who voted for the resolution.
Republicans could use a procedural move to block the measure, arguing that the resolution should no longer be “privileged” because the U.S. is not currently engaged in hostilities with Venezuela. This move would give the matter priority on the Senate floor.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota previewed the argument in floor remarks on Wednesday.
“Today, we expect a vote on a resolution to direct the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities in or against Venezuela, even though the U.S. is not currently engaged in hostilities in or against Venezuela,” Thune said. “We have no troops on the ground in Venezuela. We’re not currently conducting military operations there.”
Following the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife last week, Democratic Senator Tim Kaine advanced a resolution limiting Trump’s ability to further strike Venezuela and received backing from five Republican senators. Previous attempts at such a measure in the upper chamber failed.
The GOP senators who voted with Democrats to advance the measure were Todd Young of Indiana, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Josh Hawley of Missouri.
President Trump immediately expressed his disappointment with the action and with the GOP senators who supported it, stating they “should never be elected to office again” and calling them “real losers.”
The Republican senators all had reservations about further military action in the country, and some said they had been contacted directly by either President Trump or Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“I’m not speaking to final passage,” said Todd Young on Tuesday. “I’m certainly glad the president and his team gave me a call, but I found it important to vote for the resolution at least procedurally.”
Josh Hawley objected to troops being put on the ground in Venezuela but stated he would now vote with the GOP to kill the effort.
Hawley said Rubio confirmed the U.S. “has no ground troops currently in Venezuela” and that if the administration plans to put troops in Venezuela, “they would abide by the War Powers Act and they would come to Congress for congressional authorization.”
“The secretary told me directly that the administration will not put ground troops in Venezuela,” Hawley said.
Kaine maintained early Wednesday that he expected all five GOP members to remain supportive of the resolution.
Lawmakers claimed that, prior to Maduro’s ouster, they had received insufficient answers from the Trump administration about whether its end goals included regime change, while the administration launched strikes against alleged drug-running boats, imposed an oil blockade, increased its military presence and threatened land strikes.
Republicans who voted to advance the measure last week were concerned with Trump’s comments about running the country of Venezuela and the potential for U.S. forces to be deployed there.
A day after the initial vote, Trump called off a so-called “second wave” of attacks against Venezuela, claiming that the “two countries are working well together,” but maintained that U.S. naval forces would remain in the region for “safety and security purposes.”
Senator Kaine claimed the second attack was called off due to the War Powers vote.
Late Wednesday, the Senate squashed the War Powers Resolution, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote.
Sens. Hawley and Young flipped their votes after being reassured by the White House. Hawley indicated that Rubio addressed his concerns about troop deployment, while Young maintained he did not cave to pressure from the president, but rather that he had “secured some valuable reassurances and deliverables” from the White House regarding its efforts in Venezuela.
