WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate voted Thursday to limit President Donald Trump’s authority to conduct further military operations against Venezuela, passing a War Powers Resolution in a rare bipartisan rebuke of executive overreach.
In the Republican-controlled Senate, all Democratic senators were joined by five Republicans to approve the resolution in a 52-47 vote. The measure requires the president to seek explicit congressional authorization before engaging in any additional hostilities against the South American nation.
The vote follows a weekend operation in which U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a nighttime raid. While the administration continues to seek control over Venezuela’s government and oil resources, the Senate’s action signals growing unease over the President’s expansionist ambitions in the Western Hemisphere.
“The time has come for Congress to assert its constitutional authority over military actions,” said Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), who championed the resolution. “These matters must be debated openly, not conducted in secret.”
The resolution comes as the administration reportedly discusses the potential acquisition or military seizure of Greenland from Denmark. Despite the Senate victory, the measure faces an uphill battle; it must pass the House and would ultimately require President Trump’s signature to become law—an unlikely prospect given his immediate reaction.
Following the vote, President Trump took to social media to criticize the lawmakers, stating that the senators involved “should not be re-elected.”
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