WASHINGTON — The Senate advanced a resolution Thursday to block President Trump from taking additional military action in Venezuela, just five days after the capture of Caracas strongman Nicolas Maduro.
In a 52-47 vote, the upper chamber agreed to consider a so-called “War Powers resolution” to force Trump to end hostilities toward the South American nation, in a blow to the administration.
The measure must still clear the Senate and House to take effect.
President Trump has boasted about his intentions of getting oil from Venezuela after capturing Nicolas Maduro. AP
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) speaking at a press conference on the Venezuela war power resolution with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Ca.) after the resolution advanced in the Senate on Jan. 8, 2026. AFP via Getty ImagesFive Republicans crossed party lines to support debate on the measure: Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Todd Young of Indiana.
“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,” Trump later seethed on Truth Social, listing the defectors by name and raging that they “should never be elected to office again.”
“This Vote greatly hampers American Self Defense and National Security, impeding the President’s Authority as Commander in Chief. In any event, and despite their ‘stupidity,’ the War Powers Act is Unconstitutional, totally violating Article II of the Constitution, as all Presidents, and their Departments of Justice, have determined before me.”
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), a Democrat who has praised the Jan. 3 operation to apprehend Maduro, joined his colleagues in supporting the resolution, saying in a statement that he did it “so we can continue this important debate on the floor of the Senate.”
“I believe the arrest of Maduro was a positive development for Venezuela and its people,” Fetterman reiterated.
Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores being transported to Manhattan federal court for their arrangement on Jan. 5, 2026. GC Images
Maduro and Flores seen in a courtroom sketch. AFP via Getty ImagesGOP leadership had frantically whipped opposition to the resolution, initially proposed by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.)
Kaine — along with Paul, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) — reintroduced the resolution last month, as Trump amassed military assets in the region and greenlit dozens of strikes against alleged drug boats.
“In the Senate, we Democrats are fighting to prevent military adventurism in Venezuela and other countries and endless wars,” Schumer told reporters ahead of the vote.
Schumer highlighted Trump’s comments that it could take years for the US to end its oversight of Venezuela. REUTERS“Donald Trump said last night in his interview with The New York Times. It could take years to solve the problem in Venezuela. That is not what Americans want.”
Under the War Powers Act, Congress can adopt a resolution to stop a president from engaging in a military conflict without the consent of the legislative branch.
Here’s the latest on Nicolás Maduro’s capture:
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- US capture of Maduro could lead to rise in defense spending: analyst
- Interim Venezuelan president names Maduro’s torture czar as head of security
Unlike most legislation, it can pass the Senate with a simple majority rather than 60 votes.
The White House opposed the measure, arguing that it would undermine Trump’s authority as commander-in-chief.
“The actions of our Armed Forces have been directed by the President consistent with his inherent responsibility to protect US citizens both at home and abroad,” the White House wrote in a memo.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) speaking with reporters after joining with Democrats and four other Republicans in the Senate to advance the resolution. AFP via Getty ImagesThe Trump administration has defended the operation to capture Maduro as a law enforcement endeavor, pointing to the federal indictment against the Venezuelan strongman on drug and weapons charges.
The White House has sought to leverage its oil quarantine of Venezuela to pressure its current leader, Delcy Rodriguez, into making changes.
But there are questions about the longer-term strategy to transition Venezuela back to a democracy.
Trump has not ruled out boots on the ground in the country.
“We will rebuild it in a very profitable way,” Trump told the New York Times in a wide-ranging interview Wednesday. “We’re going to be using oil, and we’re going to be taking oil.”
“We’re getting oil prices down, and we’re going to be giving money to Venezuela, which they desperately need.”
Lawmakers are also eyeing other war powers resolutions to stop Trump from taking military action against Iran or to acquire Greenland.
Last year, Congress repealed the Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMFs) for the Gulf War and the 2003 invasion of Iraq in passing the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act.






