The United States Senate is poised for a crucial vote this Thursday on a Democratic-led resolution designed to curtail President Donald Trump's ability to initiate further military action against Venezuela. This move comes in direct response to the dramatic weekend raid by US special forces in Caracas, which resulted in the capture and extradition of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
Democrats Challenge Presidential War Powers
The resolution, spearheaded by Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, seeks to enforce the War Powers Act, mandating that the President must seek explicit authorisation from Congress before deploying military force against Venezuela. The Trump administration did not notify lawmakers prior to executing the operation on Saturday, 27 December 2025, which saw US troops storm the Venezuelan capital and transport Maduro to New York to face "narco-terrorism" charges.
In a speech on the Senate floor, Kaine argued that Congress must define its position for the American public, especially after the raid which left several US service members injured. He emphasised a foundational principle that war should be a last resort, not decided by one individual alone.
Republican Defence and Democratic Defections
The resolution faces steep odds in the Republican-controlled chamber. GOP leaders have largely praised Trump's aggressive stance. House Speaker Mike Johnson stated the world is safer with Maduro in US custody, calling Trump a "strong president who takes decisive action." Only two Republican senators, Rand Paul and Lisa Murkowski, have previously broken ranks to support similar measures.
However, Democrats may not present a united front. Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania publicly commended the Caracas raid as a "positive development for Venezuela," praising the military's execution. This potential defection highlights the political complexities surrounding the issue.
A Pattern of Escalation and Congressional Pushback
This vote is the latest in a series of Congressional attempts to rein in Trump's campaign against the Venezuelan government, which intensified in September with airstrikes on vessels alleged to be carrying drugs. Those strikes have reportedly killed at least 110 people, though experts have contested the claim the boats carried fentanyl. Controversy deepened when it emerged the military killed two survivors of one strike.
Regardless of Thursday's outcome, Democrats signal they will continue their efforts. Kaine indicated plans for further war powers resolutions concerning Nigeria, Cuba, Mexico, and Colombia—all nations Trump has targeted or threatened in the past year. Gregory Meeks, top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, criticised administration officials for an inadequate briefing and suggested he would introduce another resolution, questioning the shifting justifications for intervention from drugs to regime change to oil.
