WASHINGTON

US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer warned Monday that if President Donald Trump orders military strikes on Venezuela, he—along with his colleagues—would immediately introduce a war powers resolution to block the deployment of US forces.

"I want to be very, very clear. If Donald Trump proceeds with his plan to conduct strikes against Venezuela, Senators (Tim) Kaine, (Rand) Paul and I will immediately file a war powers resolution to force congressional action to block the use of troops in Venezuela," Schumer told the Senate floor.

The power to declare war lies in the hands of Congress, he said.

"We intend to exert that authority should the need arise," he said, urging Republican colleagues to work with Democrats to advance the resolution "if it becomes necessary."

Schumer claimed that Trump has turned the Caribbean into "a dangerous tinderbox."

He also criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, calling him “unserious,” “childish” and “obviously insecure.”

The senator cited a social media post Sunday from Hegseth showing a cartoon turtle firing at boats.

"Yesterday, he posted a ridiculous tweet of a cartoon turtle firing on alleged drug traffickers, a sick parody of a well-known children's book. This man is a national embarrassment. Tweeting memes in the middle of a potential armed conflict is something no serious leader would ever even think of doing," Schumer said.

He then turned to a report by The Washington Post that said Hegseth ordered a follow-up strike on a suspected drug vessel operating in the Caribbean on Sept. 2 after an initial attack did not kill everyone on board.

"There are tapes in the possession of the Department of Defense that would show exactly what happened during these military strikes. Secretary Hegseth has an obligation to be truthful, so he should release those tapes. He says The Washington Post account is 'not correct.' So why not release the tapes and prove it?" Schumer said.

Trump on Sunday dismissed the report, defending Hegseth.

"Pete said that didn't happen. I have great confidence (in him)...Pete said he did not order the death of those two men," he said.

Earlier Monday, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said that Hegseth "authorized" Admiral Frank Bradley to conduct the strikes.

"Secretary Hegseth authorized Admiral Bradley to conduct these kinetic strikes. Admiral Bradley worked well within his authority and the law directing the engagement to ensure the boat was destroyed and the threat to the United States of America was eliminated," Leavitt said.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters Monday that the White House is "lying."

"It's my understanding that Pete Hegseth, the so-called Secretary of Defense, was absolutely involved," Jeffries said, calling Hegseth "the most unqualified secretary of defense in American history."