US Senate blocks bill to curb Trump’s war powers on Venezuela

WASHINGTON

The US Senate on Wednesday voted against a resolution aimed at curbing President Donald Trump’s authority to launch strikes on Venezuela.

The vote was 51-50 on a point of order that halted the war powers resolution, with only three Republicans joining all Democrats to advance it and Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote.

Senators Josh Hawley and Todd Young voted Wednesday in favor of the resolution after facing heavy pressure from Trump, who had called for their removal from the Senate following their defiance last week.

Two previous efforts to move similar resolutions were rejected in the upper chamber last year by Republicans as the Trump administration escalated military pressure on Venezuela with strikes beginning in September.

On Jan. 3, the US dramatically escalated the confrontation with a military operation in Venezuela, capturing President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. Trump later said his administration would "run" Venezuela and its oil assets during a transition period.