• Senate voted 52-47 to advance war powers resolution after Maduro capture
• Paul, Murkowski, Collins, Hawley and Young joined all Democrats
• Measure would require congressional approval for further Venezuela strikes

WASHINGTON, DC (TDR) — Five Republican senators joined all Democrats Thursday to advance a war powers resolution that would block President Donald Trump from conducting further military action in Venezuela without congressional approval, delivering a rare bipartisan rebuke days after the capture of Nicolás Maduro.

The Senate voted 52-47 to move forward with the measure, which would require the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Venezuela unless authorized by Congress. Republican Senators Rand Paul of Kentucky, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, Josh Hawley of Missouri and Todd Young of Indiana voted with Democrats to advance the resolution.

The vote came after US forces carried out a large-scale military operation last weekend that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, who now face federal charges including narcoterrorism conspiracy and conspiracy to import cocaine in New York.

Constitutional Authority Debate

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Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), who introduced the resolution with Paul, argued the operation went far beyond a simple arrest warrant.

“This is bigger than an arrest warrant. More than 200 enemies have been killed. U.S. troops have been injured. Two are still hospitalized. And now we understand after the hearing yesterday, and what has been made public, this will go on for a long period of time.”

Paul, an outspoken proponent of war powers resolutions, acknowledged Maduro is viewed as a “bad guy” and “a socialist and an autocrat” but emphasized constitutional principles.

“Make no mistake, bombing another nation’s capital and removing their leader is an act of war plain and simple. No provision in the Constitution provides such power to the presidency. The question is about who has the power to take the country to war.”

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Collins said in a statement that Trump’s comments about potentially deploying boots on the ground and running Venezuela prompted her support for invoking the War Powers Act.

“While I support the operation to seize Nicolas Maduro, which was extraordinary in its precision and complexity, I do not support committing additional U.S. military personnel without authorization from Congress.”

Trump’s Expanding Venezuela Plans

The vote gained traction after Trump told The New York Times he expected US oversight of Venezuela to last potentially years rather than months.

“Only time will tell. We will rebuild it in a very profitable way. We’re going to be using oil, and we’re going to be taking oil.”

Trump wrote on Truth Social Wednesday that Venezuela would use proceeds from oil sales for “ONLY American Made Products,” including agricultural products, medicines, medical devices and electrical grid equipment.

“In other words, Venezuela is committing to doing business with the United States of America as their principal partner – A wise choice, and a very good thing for the people of Venezuela, and the United States.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said after a briefing for senators that the US has “tremendous leverage” over Venezuela and will control proceeds from oil sales to help stabilize the country.

Republican Leadership Defends Operation

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) defended the operation as falling under Trump’s Article II authority to protect the country from actual or imminent attack.

“President Trump’s decisive action to disrupt the unacceptable status quo and apprehend Maduro, through the execution of a valid Department of Justice warrant, is an important first step to bring him to justice for the drug crimes for which he has been indicted in the United States.”

Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso said Wednesday the resolution does not reassert Congress’s powers but rather makes America weaker and less safe.

“It would weaken the President’s legitimate, constitutional authority. This body, the United States Senate, is being asked whether the President of the United States has the authority to arrest indicted criminals. Of course he does.”

Republican Senator Jim Risch of Idaho called the resolution “nonsense” and said “the effect of this is to slap the president of the United States in the face.”

Prior Authorization Attempts Failed

Thursday’s vote marked the third time Senate Democrats forced a vote to limit Trump’s military abilities in Venezuela. Previous unsuccessful attempts occurred in October and November, with only Paul and Murkowski voting with Democrats then.

The Trump administration began striking alleged drug smuggling boats in the Caribbean in September, killing more than 100 people in the months-long campaign. Congressional leaders known as the “Gang of Eight” were not notified before the Venezuela strike began Saturday.

Rubio defended the decision not to notify lawmakers beforehand, calling it a “trigger-based mission” that could not accommodate pre-notification.

“This is not the kind of mission that you can do congressional notification on. It was a trigger-based mission in which conditions had to be met night after night. Remember, at the end of day, at its core, this was an arrest of two indicted fugitives of American justice.”

Trump added that Congress “has a tendency to leak” and advance notification “would not have been good.”

House Speaker Expresses Confidence

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said Wednesday he does not think anyone is talking about using military force in Greenland and believes the administration is looking at diplomatic channels.

“The Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war. There’s no dispute about that, of course, but we are not in a war in Venezuela.”

Johnson said after Monday’s classified briefing that the administration does not expect troops on the ground and characterized the operation as demanding behavioral change by the regime rather than regime change.

Future War Powers Resolutions Expected

Kaine announced plans to introduce war powers resolutions seeking to block any Trump military actions in Greenland, Mexico, Cuba, Colombia and Nigeria. Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) said he is working on a resolution “to block Trump from invading Greenland.”

“We must stop him before he invades another country on a whim. No more forever wars.”

The resolution requires another procedural vote and debate before a final vote expected next week. If passed by the Senate, the measure would need House approval and Trump’s signature to become law. The president is expected to veto any resolution restricting his commander-in-chief powers, and there are not enough votes in either chamber to override such action.

Young, a Marine veteran, emphasized concerns about potential long-term military engagement.

“A drawn-out campaign in Venezuela involving the American military, even if unintended, would be the opposite of President Trump’s goal of ending foreign entanglements.”

Hawley told reporters after the vote that potential troop deployments require congressional authorization.

“I just think if you’re going to put troops in there for hostilities, you’re going to have to get congressional approval.”

Will Congress successfully reassert its constitutional authority over military action, or will Trump’s expanding foreign ambitions proceed unchecked despite bipartisan opposition in the Senate?

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