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2h ago

Senate War Powers Vote on Venezuela in Doubt as GOP Eyes Procedural Block

Trump’s pressure campaign leaves the measure’s path uncertain under a veto threat.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., speaks during a news conference at the Capitol, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)
President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with oil executives in the East Room of the White House, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., speaks with reporters at the Senate Subway on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., talks with reporters outside the Senate chamber during a vote at the Capitol, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

Overview

  • The Kaine–Paul resolution, which would require congressional authorization for new U.S. military action in or against Venezuela, advanced 52–47 last week with all Democrats and five Republicans, setting up a final vote as soon as Wednesday.
  • Sens. Josh Hawley and Todd Young, who helped advance the measure, now decline to commit after calls from Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with Hawley saying Rubio assured him there will be no U.S. ground troops in Venezuela.
  • Republican leaders are weighing a point of order to table the resolution by arguing there are no U.S. troops or active hostilities, and Fox News reported Vice President JD Vance could be used to break a tie on a motion to kill it.
  • Senators received a classified legal opinion on the Maduro operation as the administration has alternated between counterterrorism authorities and a law-enforcement framing; Sen. Rand Paul criticized keeping the legal arguments secret.
  • Trump has publicly attacked the GOP defectors and the White House has promised a veto, leaving enactment unlikely even if the Senate passes the resolution and the Republican-led House takes it up.