By Trendsetter Tribune 
Senate Republicans killed a war powers resolution aimed at limiting President Trump’s ability to strike Venezuela after party pressure and White House assurances.
Senate Republicans successfully blocked a war powers resolution intended to restrict President Donald Trump from further military strikes in Venezuela, after pressure from the White House and a procedural maneuver shifted the vote.
The resolution, introduced by Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, would have directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities in or against Venezuela. While five Republicans initially supported advancing the measure—Sens. Josh Hawley, Todd Young, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, and Rand Paul—they ultimately changed course, with only Murkowski, Collins, and Paul voting against the GOP effort to kill it. Vice President JD Vance broke a 50-50 tie on the procedural motion.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune argued the resolution should not remain “privileged,” a designation giving it priority on the floor, because the U.S. is not currently engaged in hostilities in Venezuela. “We have no troops on the ground in Venezuela. We’re not currently conducting military operations there,” Thune said.
White House Assurances Influenced GOP Senators
The shift by Hawley and Young followed direct engagement from the Trump administration. Hawley said Secretary of State Marco Rubio assured him that the U.S. has no ground forces in Venezuela and would seek congressional approval if any deployment were planned. Young also emphasized that the senators obtained “valuable reassurances and deliverables” from the White House.
Both senators noted that the resolution, if passed, was unlikely to survive a presidential veto, which would have required a two-thirds majority in both chambers to override.
Background and Context
The war powers resolution gained momentum after Trump’s administration captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, with Trump asserting that the U.S. is now in charge of the country. Republicans who initially supported advancing the measure cited Trump’s statements about running Venezuela and the potential deployment of U.S. forces as reasons to seek congressional oversight.
A day after the initial Senate vote, Trump announced that he had canceled a “second wave” of attacks on Venezuela, stating that both countries are “working well together.” He added that U.S. naval forces would remain in the region “for safety and security purposes.”
Kaine attributed Trump’s decision to call off further strikes to the war powers vote, though the White House did not respond to requests for comment.
Trump Criticism and Political Fallout
Trump reacted strongly to the Republicans who changed their votes, calling them “real losers” and saying they “should never be elected to office again.” The incident highlighted ongoing tensions within the GOP over congressional oversight of military actions, particularly in foreign conflicts where the president asserts authority.
The episode also underscores broader questions about U.S. goals in Venezuela, including regime change and military operations, which have been debated by lawmakers as Trump continues to maintain a high-profile and unconventional approach to foreign policy.