The US House has dealt a blow to efforts aimed at curbing President Trump's military actions in Venezuela. A resolution that would have barred Trump from deploying US troops to the South American nation fell just short of the required majority, highlighting a growing divide within Congress.
The vote, which ended in a tie, is a stark reminder of the tenuous hold House Speaker Mike Johnson has on the majority, as well as the increasing pushback against Trump's aggressive policies in the Western Hemisphere. This comes at a time when the Republican-controlled Congress is showing signs of resistance to the president's foreign entanglements.
But here's where it gets controversial... The tied vote in the House was followed by a similar outcome in the Senate, where JD Vance broke the deadlock. To secure the defeat of the Democratic-backed resolution, Republican leaders had to go to extraordinary lengths, keeping the vote open for over 20 minutes while a Republican congressman, Wesley Hunt, rushed back to Capitol Hill to cast the deciding vote.
On the House floor, Democrats voiced their frustration, accusing Republican leaders of violating procedural rules. Notably, two Republicans, Don Bacon of Nebraska and Thomas Massie of Kentucky, joined all Democrats in voting for the legislation.
The war powers resolution aimed to direct Trump to remove US troops from Venezuela. The Trump administration has assured senators that there are no US troops on the ground in Venezuela and has committed to seeking congressional approval before launching major military operations there. However, Democrats argue that the resolution is necessary in light of the recent capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by US troops in a surprise raid, which Congress was kept in the dark about.
Thursday's vote was yet another test of the leeway Republicans are willing to give Trump, who campaigned on removing the US from foreign entanglements but has increasingly relied on military options to assert his will. So far, almost all Republicans have refrained from imposing checks on Trump through war powers votes.
Brian Mast, the Republican chair of the House Armed Services Committee, accused Democrats of bringing the war powers resolution to a vote out of spite for Trump. However, Democrats strongly maintain that Congress must assert its role in determining when the president can use wartime powers.
"Donald Trump is reducing the United States to a regional bully with fewer allies and more enemies," said Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, during a floor debate.
Last week, Senate Republicans narrowly dismissed the Venezuela war powers resolution after the Trump administration convinced two Republicans to withdraw their earlier support. Trump's recent military actions and threats have reignited a long-standing debate in Congress over the War Powers Act, which was enacted during the Vietnam War era.
Trump's insistence on possessing Greenland, despite Denmark's objections as a NATO ally, has alarmed some Republicans on Capitol Hill. They have been among the most vocal critics of the president's actions since he took office.
While Trump has recently backed away from military and tariff threats against European allies, announcing that his administration is working with NATO on Arctic security, Don Bacon still expressed frustration with Trump's aggressive foreign policy. Bacon voted for the war powers resolution, even though it only applies to Venezuela, stating, "I'm tired of all the threats."
This ongoing debate raises important questions about the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches, especially when it comes to matters of war and peace. It remains to be seen how this controversy will unfold and whether Congress will assert its authority to prevent potential military escalations.
