In a significant political move, the United States Senate has passed legislation designed to restrict President Donald Trump's ability to authorise further military action in Venezuela without explicit approval from Congress.
Bipartisan Support Defies President
The war powers resolution was carried on Thursday, 8 January 2026, by a vote of 52 to 47. The measure saw five Republican senators break ranks to join Democrats in backing it, while one other Republican abstained. This cross-party support ensures a final vote on the legislation will proceed next week.
The Republican senators who voted in favour were Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Rand Paul, Josh Hawley, and Todd Young. Their decision prompted an immediate and fierce backlash from President Trump, who took to social media to condemn them.
"Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Rand Paul, Josh Hawley, and Todd Young should never be elected to office again," Mr Trump stated. He added that Republicans should be "ashamed of the Senators that just voted with Democrats in attempting to take away our powers to fight and defend the United States of America."
A Constitutional Clash Over War Powers
The vote represents a notable victory for lawmakers who have long argued that the constitutional power to declare war resides with Congress, not the presidency. The move follows a US military operation in Caracas last Saturday which resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
That operation led to criticism from Democrats, who accused the Trump administration of misleading Congress over plans for regime change in the South American country. Senator Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican who co-sponsored the resolution, highlighted a growing concern within his party about executive overreach.
"It's interesting to see that more people, at least on my side, now are interested in who has the war prerogative, who has the prerogative to initiate or declare war," he said following the vote.
Long Road to Becoming Law
Despite its passage in the Senate, the resolution faces formidable obstacles. To become law, it must also pass the Republican-majority House of Representatives. Furthermore, it would need to secure two-thirds majorities in both chambers to override an almost certain presidential veto from Mr Trump.
Opponents of the resolution, such as Senator Jim Risch, the Republican chairman of the foreign relations panel, argued the vote was a symbolic gesture. "The purpose of this resolution is to slap the president in the face," he said before the vote, claiming it "will do nothing that it purports to do."
The Senate had previously blocked two similar resolutions last year as the administration increased military pressure on Venezuela. A vote in November was defeated by a narrower margin of 51 to 49, shortly after Trump advisers assured lawmakers they did not plan to conduct strikes on Venezuelan territory or forcibly change its government.
In related developments, Venezuela's top lawmaker, Jorge Rodriguez, announced on Thursday that a significant number of prisoners would be released as a peace gesture, following requests from opposition figures. Venezuelan rights group Foro Penal estimates there are 863 political prisoners in the country.
Nicolas Maduro, now in US custody, will stand trial in New York on drugs and weapons charges, to which he has pleaded not guilty.
