US Senate rejects Venezuela war powers resolution as two Republicans flip

The US Senate sidelined a war powers resolution Wednesday that would have put a check on President Donald Trump’s ability to carry out further military attacks on Venezuela, as the president put intense pressure on his fellow Republicans to vote down the measure.

Trump has lashed out at five GOP senators who joined with Democrats to advance the resolution last week.

Yet even the possibility that the Republican-controlled Senate would defy Trump on such a high-profile vote revealed the growing alarm on Capitol Hill about the president’s expanding foreign policy ambitions.

Democrats forced the vote after US troops captured former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a surprise night-time raid earlier this month.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Wednesday that Republicans “abdicated their responsibility” after they voted to dismiss a war powers resolution that would have given Congress a say on Trump’s future military actions in Venezuela.

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“What has happened tonight is a road map to another endless war,” Schumer said.

Virginia Senator Tim Kaine said Democrats will “file a whole lot more war powers resolutions” as Trump has threatened action in other countries.

“They can run but they can’t hide,” Kaine said of Republicans.

“They can’t block us from having a vote.”

Successful White House efforts to flip two Republican votes, Sens. Josh Hawley of Missouri and Todd Young of Indiana, was to “stop a debate about a war,” Kaine said.

Republican senators stood by Trump’s desire to have no restraints in Venezuela. But they needed Vice President JD Vance to break a 50-50 tie.

Sens. Josh Hawley of Missouri and Todd Young of Indiana flipped on a procedural vote after joining Democrats and three other Republicans last week to advance the proposal.

Trump pressured Republicans and made clear he wouldn’t sign the resolution.

Democrats pushed the resolution after US troops captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in a raid earlier this month.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the debate is “anti-Trump hysteria.” Republican Senator Rand Paul, who voted with Democrats, said it recognized lawmakers’ constitutional authority to declare war.

“If we don’t know it’s a war until after all the people die ... wouldn’t it then be a little late?” Paul said, calling it “an absurdity” to argue Trump hasn’t already taken actions of war.