President Donald Trump expressed strong discontent following a resolution advanced by five Republican senators and Democrats that mandates congressional approval for any future military action in Venezuela.
The resolution was advanced on Thursday, Jan. 8, with a 52-47 vote, a rare instance of Trump’s own party members opposing him.
The five Republican Senators, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Josh Hawley of Missouri, and Todd Young of Indiana, broke away from party lines to advance a War Powers Resolution from the Vietnam era. The resolution was co-sponsored by Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia and Paul. It necessitates that Trump to obtain congressional approval before deploying additional forces to Venezuela.
Shortly after the vote, Trump made calls to each of the senators, threatening them with primary challenges and promising to work towards their defeat, according to individuals knowledgeable about these conversations. His call with Collins was reportedly intense, with Trump raising his voice and launching a tirade filled with expletives. A source close to Collins stated that Trump’s threatening language would not affect her decision regarding another term.
On the social media platform Truth Social, Trump publicly voiced his anger, stating that the five Republican senators “should never be elected to office again.” He referred to their decision as “stupidity,” arguing it posed a significant threat to American self-defense and National Security by limiting the president’s Authority as Commander in Chief. He also referred to the War Powers Resolution as unconstitutional.
However, Collins responded to Trump’s attack by issuing a statement that explained her stance. She stated her support for the operation to capture Nicolas Maduro but expressed her disapproval of any long-term military involvement in Venezuela or Greenland without specific congressional authorization.
The conflict ensued after the U.S. military apprehended Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a surprise early morning raid. Maduro now faces drug-related charges in New York, while the Trump administration aims to control Venezuela’s oil resources and government.
Senator Paul defended his vote, stating, “Make no mistake, bombing another nation’s capital and removing their leader is an act of war, plain and simple.” He emphasized that “the Constitution vests Congress with the authority to declare war” and stated that “no provision in the Constitution provides such power to the presidency.”
Despite the support for the resolution, the Trump administration argued that the operation to capture Maduro was a law enforcement operation and did not require congressional consultation. Meanwhile, Senator Hawley expressed his support for the president and hinted at a possible change in his vote.
On Jan. 15, the resolution was ultimately defeated in a 50-50 vote, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote against it. Senators Hawley and Young reversed their positions after receiving assurances from Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the administration would seek congressional approval before any major military operations in Venezuela. The three other Republican senators—Paul, Collins, and Murkowski—maintained their support for the resolution despite intense pressure from Trump and his administration.
Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, one of the sponsors of the resolution, emphasized that Congress had to intervene as the situation in Venezuela amounted to an extended U.S. engagement rather than a single discrete action.
The Senate has previously rejected a similar resolution, with only Paul and Murkowski siding with the Democrats.
This confrontation over war powers reflects broader tensions between the White House and Congress over presidential authority. The validity of the War Powers Resolution has long been a subject of debate among constitutional scholars. Trump’s assertion that “all Presidents” have deemed the law unconstitutional echoes this longstanding executive branch position.
The Jan. 8 procedural vote indicated that at least five Republicans were initially willing to oppose Trump on matters of congressional war powers. However, the ultimate defeat of the resolution on Jan. 15, after two senators reversed their positions under White House pressure, demonstrated Trump’s continued influence over Republican lawmakers, even as three senators—Paul, Collins, and Murkowski—maintained their opposition despite threats of political retaliation.