US Senate Takes Stinging Rebuke of Trump Over Venezuela Raids
The US Senate has moved swiftly to rebuff President Donald Trump's military actions in Venezuela, voting 52-47 in favor of a bipartisan resolution aimed at stopping him from taking further unilateral military action. The measure was backed by all Democrats and co-sponsored by several Republicans, including Rand Paul, Todd Young, Lisa Murkowski, Josh Hawley, and Susan Collins.
The resolution requires Trump to seek permission before deploying the US military against Venezuela, sending a strong message that Congress will not be ignored on matters of war and foreign policy. The vote marked a significant rebuke of the president's actions in Venezuela, which intensified last month with airstrikes on boats off the country's coast that killed at least 110 people.
Trump responded to the Senate vote by saying that those who supported the resolution "should never be elected to office again", calling the War Powers Resolution, passed during Vietnam era, "unconstitutional". However, his criticism was largely seen as baseless, with many lawmakers viewing it as a desperate attempt to deflect attention from his own actions.
The latest development in Venezuela comes after Trump ordered US special forces to raid the capital city of Caracas and spirit President NicolΓ‘s Maduro to New York for trial on charges related to "narco-terrorism". The move sparked outrage among Democrats and some Republicans, who warned that it risked plunging the United States into a prolonged conflict.
The resolution introduced by Democratic senator Tim Kaine is seen as a necessary check on Trump's executive authority, particularly in light of his assertion that he did not inform Congress beforehand about the raid due to concerns about leaks. "Congress needs to tell the American public where it stands" on matters of war and foreign policy, Kaine said.
The resolution has significant implications for future US actions in Venezuela and beyond, with many lawmakers expected to introduce similar measures targeting other countries that Trump has targeted in recent months, including Nigeria, Cuba, Mexico, and Colombia.
The US Senate has moved swiftly to rebuff President Donald Trump's military actions in Venezuela, voting 52-47 in favor of a bipartisan resolution aimed at stopping him from taking further unilateral military action. The measure was backed by all Democrats and co-sponsored by several Republicans, including Rand Paul, Todd Young, Lisa Murkowski, Josh Hawley, and Susan Collins.
The resolution requires Trump to seek permission before deploying the US military against Venezuela, sending a strong message that Congress will not be ignored on matters of war and foreign policy. The vote marked a significant rebuke of the president's actions in Venezuela, which intensified last month with airstrikes on boats off the country's coast that killed at least 110 people.
Trump responded to the Senate vote by saying that those who supported the resolution "should never be elected to office again", calling the War Powers Resolution, passed during Vietnam era, "unconstitutional". However, his criticism was largely seen as baseless, with many lawmakers viewing it as a desperate attempt to deflect attention from his own actions.
The latest development in Venezuela comes after Trump ordered US special forces to raid the capital city of Caracas and spirit President NicolΓ‘s Maduro to New York for trial on charges related to "narco-terrorism". The move sparked outrage among Democrats and some Republicans, who warned that it risked plunging the United States into a prolonged conflict.
The resolution introduced by Democratic senator Tim Kaine is seen as a necessary check on Trump's executive authority, particularly in light of his assertion that he did not inform Congress beforehand about the raid due to concerns about leaks. "Congress needs to tell the American public where it stands" on matters of war and foreign policy, Kaine said.
The resolution has significant implications for future US actions in Venezuela and beyond, with many lawmakers expected to introduce similar measures targeting other countries that Trump has targeted in recent months, including Nigeria, Cuba, Mexico, and Colombia.