The Democratic-led legislation, which bars further US hostilities against Venezuela without explicit congressional authorisation, got through a key procedural vote with support from five Republicans. “But make no mistake, bombing another nation’s capital and removing their leader is an act of war, plain and simple. Republican leaders largely defended the president, touting his authority to conduct limited military actions in defence of US national security. “Only President Trump had the backbone to pull it off, to pull out an indicted, illegitimate president that was holding Venezuela hostage.”Since Trump returned to office, war powers resolutions on Venezuela have been rejected twice in the Senate and twice in the House. Over the last century, only one congressional resolution has successfully imposed a broad, lasting limit on unilateral presidential military action abroad: the War Powers Resolution of 1973, passed over then-president Richard Nixon’s veto.

Source: Punch January 08, 2026 18:17 UTC