Five Republican senators have broken ranks with their party to advance legislation that would block President Donald Trump from launching future attacks on Venezuela without congressional approval. This move sends a strong signal to the president that even some Republicans are opposed to his open-ended plans for Venezuela, despite his claims that they should be "ashamed" of joining Democrats in advancing this bill.
The vote was 52-47, with five Republicans - Susan Collins of Maine, Todd Young of Indiana, Josh Hawley of Missouri, and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska - siding with Democrats to advance the measure. The procedural vote moves the bill forward for consideration, but it still needs an additional vote to pass.
Trump's comments in a New York Times interview earlier this week were seen as a major factor in the Republican senators' decision. He suggested that the U.S. could oversee Venezuela's affairs for years, which led Democrats to point out that this move would effectively give Trump the power to wage war without congressional approval.
The bill's lead Democratic sponsor, Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, acknowledged that the resolution was not about limiting Trump's powers but rather about setting a constitutional precedent and sending a message to future presidents that Congress must be involved in such decisions.
However, Republican leaders claimed that the measure would do little more than "slap" Trump in the face, as there are currently no active hostilities with Venezuela. They also argued that Trump was decisive and demonstrated his commitment to keeping Americans safe, which is what matters most to voters.
Despite their differences, all Democrats voted for the resolution, while three Republicans - Collins, Young, and Hawley - had previously opposed similar measures but changed their stance after careful consideration. The bill still faces significant hurdles in both the Senate and House of Representatives before it can become law.
The development highlights the deep divisions within Trump's party on issues of war powers and presidential authority. While some Republicans support Trump's approach to Venezuela, others are increasingly concerned about the implications for the country's democratic institutions and national security. As one advocacy group noted, even if the measure ultimately fails, it could still restrain the White House from escalating tensions in Venezuela further.
The Intercept is a non-profit news organization dedicated to holding those in power accountable and providing readers with accurate information. To support their independent journalism, you can become a member today.
The vote was 52-47, with five Republicans - Susan Collins of Maine, Todd Young of Indiana, Josh Hawley of Missouri, and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska - siding with Democrats to advance the measure. The procedural vote moves the bill forward for consideration, but it still needs an additional vote to pass.
Trump's comments in a New York Times interview earlier this week were seen as a major factor in the Republican senators' decision. He suggested that the U.S. could oversee Venezuela's affairs for years, which led Democrats to point out that this move would effectively give Trump the power to wage war without congressional approval.
The bill's lead Democratic sponsor, Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, acknowledged that the resolution was not about limiting Trump's powers but rather about setting a constitutional precedent and sending a message to future presidents that Congress must be involved in such decisions.
However, Republican leaders claimed that the measure would do little more than "slap" Trump in the face, as there are currently no active hostilities with Venezuela. They also argued that Trump was decisive and demonstrated his commitment to keeping Americans safe, which is what matters most to voters.
Despite their differences, all Democrats voted for the resolution, while three Republicans - Collins, Young, and Hawley - had previously opposed similar measures but changed their stance after careful consideration. The bill still faces significant hurdles in both the Senate and House of Representatives before it can become law.
The development highlights the deep divisions within Trump's party on issues of war powers and presidential authority. While some Republicans support Trump's approach to Venezuela, others are increasingly concerned about the implications for the country's democratic institutions and national security. As one advocacy group noted, even if the measure ultimately fails, it could still restrain the White House from escalating tensions in Venezuela further.
The Intercept is a non-profit news organization dedicated to holding those in power accountable and providing readers with accurate information. To support their independent journalism, you can become a member today.
, i've been saying that our democracy is at stake since day one of his presidency and now the whole senate is catching on 
, what if he actually starts a war w/o congress approval?? 
, we can't let that happen!!! 
, and btw who needs trump's approval on foreign policy when it comes to keepin our citizens safe? 
, i'll be cheering 4 collins & co all the way 
I'm not surprised that 5 Republican senators broke ranks on this issue... it's like they're being forced to see things from the other side 
The fact that Trump's comments were the catalyst for this change in stance is telling - if he was going to try to bully them into supporting his views, then so be it. 
. He was trying to position himself as a strong leader who wouldn't be bound by congressional approval, but instead, he's facing resistance from some of his own party members. The fact that the bill has passed the Senate and is moving forward despite Republican opposition suggests that there's more to Trump's Venezuela policy than just bluster.
. It's refreshing to see politicians taking a step back and considering the constitutional implications of their actions. We'll have to wait and see how this plays out in the House and in future presidential elections, but for now, I'm feeling cautiously optimistic 
.
. So basically, some Republican senators are trying to stop President Trump from doing whatever he wants in Venezuela without asking Congress first. Like, I get it, we don't want war, right? But Trump is saying that the US can just take care of things in Venezuela for years and years... which sounds super scary to me 
. And now these Republican senators are all like "nope, we're not going to let you do that" even though they used to agree with him on this stuff. It's like a big game of chess, but I don't understand the rules 
.
these guys are basically saying "hey trump, nope, we're good" 
and it's about time someone told him to check his powers 
The fact that he was trying to say we can just go in there and take care of business without Congress knowing what's going on is super concerning. I mean, who gives the president that kind of power? It doesn't sound right 
.
. Some Republicans are totally on board with Trump's approach, while others are getting cold feet about it 
. It's like, you can't just ignore the Constitution and expect everyone to be okay with it 
.
. We need more voices in Washington who are willing to stand up for what's right, even if it's not popular 
.
. I mean, we all know how that can end - like in Iraq and Afghanistan, where it ended up being a total disaster 
. At least this bill sets a precedent for future presidents to follow (or not) and shows that even Republicans aren't afraid of speaking out against the big man 
And can you blame them?! I mean, who wants a president just making stuff up and hoping nobody calls him out on it? 
Not me, that's for sure. This is a huge deal, guys. Like, this could actually set a precedent for future presidents and it's kinda scary 
. What if one day it's someone else who gets to just decide what they want to do without having to check in with Congress? 
. It's like, what even is "overseeing" in this context? And what if it escalates into something more? 
I think setting a constitutional precedent about Congressional involvement in such decisions is kinda important 
. And let's be real, if we're worried about national security, we need to make sure our leaders are working together, not just dictating from above 
.
It's crazy how some people think he's right for doing it without Congress' approval... Meanwhile, the 5 Republican senators who crossed party lines are like, "Uh, no thanks" 
The whole thing just highlights how divided we are on these issues and how important it is for us to have checks and balances in our government. It's not just about Trump or Venezuela, it's about what kind of country we want to be. 
. I mean, come on, even some of his own party members are like "nope, not gonna do that" 