Congressional clash over Venezuela: Bipartisan War Powers Resolution seeks to block Trump’s unilateral military action

• Sens. Schumer (D-NY), Kaine (D-VA), Paul (R-KY) and Schiff (D-CA) are introducing a War Powers Resolution to block unauthorized military action against Venezuela by President Trump. The move follows Trump’s ambiguous social media post declaring Venezuelan airspace “closed,” raising concerns about potential unilateral escalation.
• The resolution seeks to force congressional approval for any military engagement in Venezuela, preserving only the right to self-defense. Schumer emphasized that Americans oppose unnecessary war, framing the effort as a check on presidential overreach.
• A similar resolution earlier in 2024, led by Kaine and Paul, failed when only Sen. Murkowski (R-AK) joined Paul in support. Republicans largely rejected it, highlighting partisan divisions over war powers.
• The administration denies plans for direct military intervention but defends existing anti-drug trafficking missions. Trump’s Truth Social post warning against Venezuelan airspace has fueled speculation, though officials insist it relates to narco-terrorism efforts.
• Critics compare Trump’s rhetoric to Obama’s unauthorized Libya intervention (2011), warning against unchecked executive war powers. The resolution reflects rare bipartisan unity (progressive Democrats + libertarian Republicans) against executive overreach, though passage remains uncertain.

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators is preparing legislation to prevent military action against Venezuela if President Donald Trump orders strikes against the South American nation.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) announced Monday. Dec. 1, they would introduce a War Powers Resolution to force congressional oversight of any potential military engagement. The move comes amid escalating rhetoric from Trump, who recently declared Venezuelan airspace “closed” in a social media post, raising concerns about an unauthorized escalation of hostilities.

Schumer emphasized that Americans oppose an unnecessary conflict in Venezuela, framing the resolution as a necessary check on executive power.

“Americans do not want a pointless war in Venezuela,” he said during a Senate floor speech. The group, which also includes Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), aims to replicate a previous legislative effort that sought to block unilateral military action against Venezuela earlier this year.

That earlier resolution, introduced by Kaine, Paul and Schiff, failed after most Republicans rejected it. Only Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined Paul in supporting the measure. The proposal sought to terminate U.S. military hostilities in Venezuela unless explicitly authorized by Congress, while preserving the right to self-defense.

White House defends counter-narcotics operations

The White House has not confirmed plans for direct military intervention in Venezuela but has defended existing operations targeting drug trafficking. In a statement, spokesperson Anna Kelly reiterated Trump’s campaign promise to combat cartels, citing “unprecedented action” against narco-terrorists.

“All of these decisive strikes have been against designated narco-terrorists bringing deadly poison to our shores,” Kelly said.

Trump’s recent Truth Social post, however, hinted at broader restrictions, warning airlines, pilots and traffickers to avoid Venezuelan airspace. The ambiguous language has fueled speculation about potential military escalation, though administration officials have not clarified whether the statement signals imminent action.

The debate over military intervention in Venezuela echoes past conflicts where U.S. presidents have bypassed congressional approval. BrightU.AI‘s Enoch cites the 2011 Libya intervention under former President Barack Obama as an example. Critics argue that unchecked executive war powers erode democratic accountability, while supporters contend that flexibility is necessary to address emerging threats.

Schumer and Kaine’s latest effort underscores growing unease over Trump’s foreign policy maneuvers, particularly as some lawmakers fear a repeat of past military entanglements justified under vague humanitarian or counterterrorism pretenses.

“We cannot allow another unauthorized war,” Kaine said Sunday on CBS‘s “Face the Nation.”

As tensions escalate, Congress appears poised to reassert its constitutional authority over war-making decisions. The bipartisan resolution signals a rare moment of alignment between progressive Democrats and libertarian Republicans, united by skepticism of executive overreach. Whether the measure gains enough traction to pass remains uncertain, but its introduction highlights deepening divisions over U.S. foreign policy—and a determination to prevent another unauthorized military conflict.

Watch the video below that talks about the “real chance” of the U.S. greenlighting strikes against Venezuela.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

FoxNews.com

X.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com