Senate Republicans moved to protect President Donald Trump’s authority to use military force in Venezuela, blocking an effort that would have forced congressional approval for any further action. The vote locked in where the Senate stands as Trump pushes the boundaries of U.S. force overseas.
The resolution failed Wednesday night after a White House pressure campaign flipped two Republican senators who had previously supported it. The final vote was 51–50, with Vice President JD Vance stepping in to break the tie and keep the measure from advancing.
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The resolution, introduced by Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, would have required explicit authorization from Congress before additional U.S. military action in Venezuela. Even if it had passed, it faced an almost certain veto by Trump.
White House pressure pays off
The measure initially gained traction last week, when five Republicans joined Democrats to advance it. That group included Sens. Josh Hawley of Missouri and Todd Young of Indiana.
By Wednesday, both had reversed course.
Republican leaders used a procedural maneuver to argue the resolution should no longer receive priority consideration, claiming the U.S. is not currently engaged in hostilities in Venezuela. Senate Majority Leader John Thune leaned heavily on that argument from the floor.
“We have no troops on the ground in Venezuela,” Thune said. “We’re not currently conducting military operations there.”
Vance then cast the tie-breaking vote to dismiss the resolution outright.
Trump had personally leaned on the GOP holdouts ahead of the vote, praising the U.S. operation that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and lashing out at Republicans who supported the measure.
“Here we have one of the most successful attacks ever and they find a way to be against it,” Trump said at a speech in Michigan on Tuesday. He mocked Sen. Rand Paul as a “stone cold loser” and called Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski “disasters.”
Those three Republicans stuck with Democrats and voted against killing the resolution.
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Vice President Kamala Harris cast the most tie-breaking Senate votes of any VP, with 33 during her tenure.
A narrow win, growing unease
While the White House prevailed, the margin told a story.
The vote exposed unease inside the Republican conference about Trump’s expanding use of military power, particularly as he talks openly about long-term U.S. control of Venezuela, threatens action to take Greenland, and signals support for protesters in Iran.
Some Republicans said assurances from Secretary of State Marco Rubio helped drive their reversals. Hawley said Rubio told him the administration had no plans to deploy ground troops and would seek congressional approval if major military action became necessary, according to the Associated Press. Young cited similar commitments, including a promise from Rubio to testify publicly before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Rubio also stated in writing that there are currently no U.S. armed forces in Venezuela.
Democrats were unconvinced.
“If this legal basis were so righteous, the administration would not be afraid to have this debate before the public,” Kaine said.
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Voters aren’t fully on board
As Senate Republicans closed ranks around the president, new polling suggests the public is more divided.
A new AP-NORC poll found that 56% of Americans believe Trump has gone too far in using the U.S. military to intervene in other countries. Majorities also disapprove of how he is handling foreign policy overall and the situation in Venezuela specifically.
Republicans largely support Trump’s approach, with most saying his actions have been “about right.” But even within his party, few want him to go further. Democrats and independents are driving the overall opposition.
The poll was conducted Jan. 8-11, after the U.S. raid that captured Maduro.
