Related videos:
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, harshly criticized a group of Republican senators on Thursday who joined Democrats to pass a resolution that limits his ability to order new military actions against Venezuela without Congressional approval.
In a message posted on his Truth Social network, Trump stated that the voting "severely impedes American self-defense and national security," and accused dissident lawmakers of trying to undermine presidential authority as commander in chief.
“Republicans should be ashamed of the senators who voted with the Democrats to try to take away our power to fight and defend the United States of America,” wrote Trump, directly pointing to Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Rand Paul, Josh Hawley, and Todd Young.
"They should never be reelected," he added.
The president also stated that the resolution “undermines the authority of the president as commander in chief” and described the War Powers Act of 1973, which the measure approved by the Senate is based on, as “unconstitutional.”
According to Trump, this law violates Article II of the Constitution, an argument that he claimed has been shared by previous administrations and various Departments of Justice.
The resolution, driven by Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, was approved with 52 votes in favor and 47 against, and aims to compel the president to seek explicit authorization from Congress before undertaking new military actions against Venezuela.
The initiative arose following the recent U.S. operation that culminated in the capture of the Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in Caracas.
Although the measure is unlikely to become law—since it would require the president's signature or a sufficient majority to overcome a potential veto—it sends a strong political message about the increasing concern in Congress regarding the unilateral use of military force.
Trump defended his decision not to notify Congress in advance about the operation against Maduro, citing security reasons and the risk of leaks.
"The Congress tends to filter information. If that had happened, the outcome would have been very different," he stated recently.
Despite the unfavorable vote, the president indicated that the debate is not over.
In his message, he announced that "a much more important vote" on the same issue will take place next week in the Senate, which foreshadows a renewed institutional clash between the White House and Congress regarding the limits of presidential power in matters of war.
Filed under: