Senate GOP Unite Against Trump’s Potential Venezuela Military Action

WASHINGTON – In a rare display of bipartisan agreement aimed at curbing potential military escalation abroad, several Republican and Democratic senators have filed War Powers Resolution measures targeting President Donald Trump’s stance on Venezuela.

The initiative comes just one day after Representative Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) joined forces with two Democrats in introducing identical resolutions in the House. Their goal is to block any U.S. military engagement within or against Venezuela without prior congressional authorization, a move that underscores significant unease across party lines about entering another conflict without a defined mandate.

These filings follow President Trump’s recent declaration treating Venezuela’s airspace as “closed,” which proponents argue lacks constitutional basis. “The Constitution does not permit the executive branch to unilaterally commit an act of war against a sovereign nation,” stated House Representative Massie, whose resolution calls for explicit congressional approval before any hostilities commence.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) echoed these sentiments in his backing statement: “Since the founding of our Republic… Congress has not declared war on Venezuela.”

The resolutions introduced by Sens. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), alongside Massie’s House measure, require presidential signature or a veto override to take effect. They rely explicitly on the principle of Constitutional Mandate.

“The American people do not want to be dragged into endless war with Venezuela without public debate,” explained Paul in his news release. “We ought to defend what the Constitution demands: deliberation before war.”

The procedural hurdles for these joint resolutions are substantial, needing broad agreement unless a veto-proof majority can be secured.