The US Senate imposed a rare rebuke on President Donald Trump in a vote held on Thursday (8) to advance legislation that opposes further military action in Venezuela, demonstrating strong political opposition to a foreign intervention that has yet to cost the life of a single American service member.
Five Republicans crossed party lines to join all Democrats in the procedural vote aimed at containing Trump, after senators from both parties complained about the lack of consultation with Congress before Trump ordered the military to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.
Concerns among Republicans are growing about a long-term presence and Trump’s plan to “manage” Venezuela indefinitely. Moderate Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, and Senator Todd Young, joined Rand Paul and Josh Hawley — more isolationist members of the party — in breaking with Trump on the vote.
The Senate still needs to approve the resolution before sending it to the House of Representatives, which is unlikely to approve the measure. The Senate will not vote on the resolution until next week, a Republican leadership aide said.
Democratic senators have also threatened to block funding for further attacks, but such legislation is extremely unlikely to overcome a presidential veto and become law.
Most Republicans sided with Trump after the lightning attack, including warmongering politicians who have occasionally clashed with Trump, such as Mitch McConnell. Other Republicans, however, fear a military quagmire.
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“President Trump campaigned against endless wars,” Young said in a statement after the vote. “A prolonged campaign in Venezuela involving the U.S. military, even if unintentional, would be the opposite of President Trump’s goal of ending foreign involvement.”
Collins, who faces a tough re-election in Maine in November, also pointed to the risks of stranding American troops in a protracted conflict in Venezuela as a reason for his vote.
“I believe invoking the War Powers Act at this time is necessary, given the president’s statements about the possibility of ‘boots on the ground’ and sustained involvement in ‘managing’ Venezuela, which I do not agree with,” Collins said in a statement released shortly before the vote.
More isolationist members like Paul have long criticized presidents who engage in military action by bypassing Congress and its constitutional power to declare war.
Trump said Thursday he would veto the resolution if it passes Congress.
