Senate Blocks Venezuela War Powers Resolution After Two Republicans Flip

The Senate on Wednesday blocked a Democratic resolution to restrict President Donald Trump’s ability to take further military action against Venezuela, after two Republicans who had helped advance it switched sides, CBS News and NBC News reported.

Sens. Josh Hawley of Missouri and Todd Young of Indiana had voted last week to advance the measure, introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia. It advanced 52-47 at that time, NBC News reported. On Wednesday, Republicans moved to strip the resolution of its “privileged” status, which gives it priority on the Senate floor. The vote was tied 50-50, and Vice President JD Vance cast the tiebreaking vote, both outlets reported.

Republicans argued that the resolution no longer applied because the U.S. is not engaged in “hostilities” with Venezuela. Majority Leader John Thune said in floor remarks: “We have no troops on the ground in Venezuela. We’re not currently conducting military operations there,” CBS News reported. Three Republicans, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Rand Paul of Kentucky, voted with Democrats against the effort to kill the resolution.

Hawley said he changed his mind after Secretary of State Marco Rubio assured him there are no U.S. ground troops in Venezuela and that, if the administration planned to send any, it would “come to Congress for congressional authorization,” NBC News reported, adding that Hawley cited a letter from Rubio. CBS News reported that Hawley said, “The secretary told me directly that the administration will not put ground troops in Venezuela.” Some senators said they received calls from Trump and Rubio before the vote, CBS News reported.

Trump had attacked the five Republicans who initially voted to advance the resolution, saying last week they “should never be elected to office again,” and on Tuesday, in a speech at the Detroit Economic Club, called them “real losers,” CBS News reported. NBC News said the episode shows Republican lawmakers’ reluctance to cross Trump as he threatens further action in Venezuela and raises the stakes with Iran and Greenland.

Kaine said he was disappointed but saw the outcome as “a growing set of cracks” in Republican willingness to stick with Trump on the issue, CBS News reported. Two earlier attempts in the Senate to rein in military action in the region had failed.