Senate advances resolution to limit Trump’s ability to attack Venezuela

Senate backs vote to block US troops in Venezuela

Five Republican senators joined Democrats on Thursday to move forward a War Powers Act resolution that would prevent President Trump from using military force in Venezuela—a step that, if approved, would undermine the administration’s strategy to seize control of the country’s oil exports.

WASHINGTON - The Senate has advanced a resolution that would limit President Donald Trump’s ability to conduct further attacks against Venezuela. Five Republicans backed the resolution.

Top Republican lawmakers are firmly backing the Trump administration’s arrest of Venezuela’s president and assertions of control over the South American nation’s oil industry, but some GOP senators are drawing the line on more attacks without the approval of Congress.

Senate advances Venezuela war powers resolution

Big picture view:

Democrats and five Republicans voted to advance the war powers resolution on a 52-47 vote tally and ensure a later vote for final passage.

But Thursday’s successful vote is just the first step before the resolution officially passes. The Senate will have to take another vote, this time with the 60-vote filibuster threshold, before it becomes official. 

While experts say it has virtually no chance of becoming law because Trump would have to sign it if it were to pass the House, it’s still a significant gesture that shows unease among some Republicans after the U.S. military seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a surprise nighttime raid.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio looks on as US President Donald Trump speaks to the press following US military actions in Venezuela, at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, on January 3, 2025. (Credit: Jim WATSON / AFP via Getty Images

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What they're saying:

"To me, this is all about going forward," said Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, one of the five Republican votes. "If the president should determine, ‘You know what? I need to put troops on the ground of Venezuela.’ I think that would require Congress to weigh in."

The other Republicans who backed the resolution were Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine and Todd Young of Indiana.

Democrats had previously failed to pass several such resolutions in the months that Trump escalated his campaign against Venezuela.

"It’s time for Congress to assert its control over military action of this kind, and it’s time to get this out of secrecy and put it in the light," said Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., who forced the vote.

Greenland may further test the limits

The backstory:

This comes as the administration weighs not only its next steps in Venezuela, but also Greenland.

This week, comments by Trump officials indicated that military action wasn’t off the table to capture the colossal, resource-rich Arctic territory, where the U.S. already has a military base.

Several Republicans like the idea of purchasing the territory from Denmark but have not yet committed to claiming it by force. There are other countries that have entered or long been in Trump’s crosshairs for conquest, too, that the duo want to ensure Congress has a say on.

RELATED: Trump: US to get 30-50 million barrels of oil from Venezuela

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a close Trump ally who traveled with the president aboard Air Force One on Sunday, said he would be comfortable with Trump taking over other countries without congressional approval, including Greenland.

"The commander in chief is the commander in chief. They can use military force," Graham said.

Meanwhile, Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego said he expected to introduce a resolution "to block Trump from invading Greenland."

"We must stop him before he invades another country on a whim," Gallego wrote on social media. "No more forever wars."

Kaine also said a resolution on Greenland would soon be filed, in addition to Cuba, Mexico, Colombia and Nigeria.