Topline
Senate Republicans rejected the Venezuela War Powers Resolution on Wednesday, which sought to limit President Donald Trump’s ability to make further attacks on the country, with a tie-breaking vote from Vice President JD Vance.
Vance provided the tie-breaking vote Wednesday.
Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images
Key Facts
The resolution was rejected in a 51-50 vote.
After pressure from Trump, Sens. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Todd Young, R-Ind., voted against the resolution after initially supporting it.
Trump earlier this week blasted Hawley, Young and Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Rand Paul, R-Ky., for supporting the legislation, saying all five “should never be elected to office again.”
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said Wednesday following the resolution’s dismissal, “The White House put a full-court press unlike any I’ve seen in 13 years here to stop a public debate about a war.”
Crucial Quote
“After numerous conversations with senior national security officials, I have received assurances that there are no American troops in Venezuela,” Young said in a statement. “I’ve also received a commitment that if President Trump were to determine American forces are needed in major military operations in Venezuela, the Administration will come to Congress in advance to ask for an authorization of force.”
What To Watch For
Secretary of State Marco Rubio will provide an update on Venezuela to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, according to Young.
Key Background
Kaine sponsored the resolution with backing from Republicans after a U.S. military operation on Jan. 3 involving over 150 aircraft resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Both the Venezuelan president and his wife were arraigned in New York following the capture, pleading not guilty to their charges in the U.S. related to allegations of narcoterrorism. Their next court date is scheduled for March 17. The Trump administration characterized the operation as a ”joint military and law enforcement mission,” with Vance citing Maduro’s U.S. indictments for narcoterrorism. The Trump administration has hinted at similar intervention in countries like Colombia and Cuba, though Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who recently taunted Trump, will meet with the U.S. president in February.
Further Reading
Trump Attacks Republicans Who Voted To Curb His Ability To Strike Venezuela (Forbes)
Will Trump Raid Colombia Next? Country’s President Says ‘Come Get Me’ (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2026/01/14/senate-republicans-shoot-down-venezuela-war-powers-resolution/
