Rubio Defends Maduro Raid as Short of 'War' as Rand Paul Presses Constitutional Limits
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee the Jan. raid that captured Nicolás Maduro was a law‑enforcement operation — “not a war” — insisting there are no U.S. ground troops in Venezuela, vowing the administration would seek congressional authorization for any major future military operations and warning the U.S. is prepared to use force if other methods fail; Sen. Rand Paul pressed Rubio on constitutional limits, arguing the campaign’s strikes, blockade and ouster could constitute an act of war. Congressional efforts to rein in the president faltered: the Senate used a procedural point to strip and defeat Sen. Tim Kaine’s war‑powers resolution 51–50 (Vice President J.D. Vance breaking the tie) after GOP Sens. Josh Hawley and Todd Young flipped following administration assurances, while the House also blocked a similar measure in a 215–215 vote, even as critics point to dozens of maritime strikes that have reportedly killed at least 126 people.
📌 Key Facts
- Senate Republicans used a rare point-of-order to strip Sen. Tim Kaine’s Venezuela war-powers resolution of privileged status; the blocking motion passed 51–50 with Vice President J.D. Vance casting the tie-breaking vote after Sens. Josh Hawley and Todd Young flipped to back leadership.
- Hawley and Young said they flipped after private assurances from the Trump administration and Secretary of State Marco Rubio — including repeated affirmations that there are no U.S. ground troops in Venezuela, that no further military action is planned, and that the administration would seek congressional authorization before introducing U.S. forces into major hostilities; Rubio also formalized commitments in a letter to Sen. James Risch and agreed to testify publicly.
- Marco Rubio testified to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (Jan. 28), defended the Jan. 3 raid that captured Nicolás Maduro as a law‑enforcement 'arrest' rather than a war, repeatedly asserted 'there are no U.S. troops on the ground,' characterized ongoing strikes and seizures as law‑enforcement or support operations, and said the U.S. is 'prepared to use force to ensure maximum cooperation if other methods fail' while downplaying plans for additional operations.
- Senators pressing Rubio — including Sen. Chris Coons, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Sen. Rand Paul — questioned the legality, costs and consultation with Congress; Coons said senior officials had told the committee removal of Maduro 'wasn't on the table' even as the operation was rehearsed, and Paul called the argument that the campaign is not a war 'a ruse.'
- Congress remained divided: three GOP senators (Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Rand Paul) supported allowing Kaine’s resolution to proceed, Tim Kaine said he will keep filing war‑powers measures, and the House separately failed to advance a similar resolution in a 215–215 tie after Rep. Wesley Hunt rushed back to cast the deciding vote.
- Reporting shows the administration’s Venezuela campaign has included maritime strikes and tanker seizures: roughly three dozen U.S. boat strikes since September have been reported to have killed at least 126 people, prompting wrongful‑death suits and sharp Democratic warnings that U.S. actions risk turning the country into a 'regional bully,' while Republicans framed the Maduro raid as a highly successful law‑enforcement operation.
- Rubio — who is serving in expanded roles in the administration — spelled out policy goals that include pressing acting president Delcy Rodríguez to open Venezuela’s energy sector to American firms, grant U.S. companies preferential oil access, channel revenues into U.S. purchases, and end oil shipments to Cuba, and said the U.S. is closely monitoring the interim government’s compliance.
- Republican leaders defended the procedural maneuver by citing precedent (Democrats used a similar tactic in 2024) and arguing the War Powers fast‑track does not apply because there are no present hostilities or 'boots on the ground' in Venezuela; Democrats countered that the move short‑circuited a substantive war‑powers debate and left the president’s authority unchecked.
📰 Source Timeline (30)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
January 28, 2026
6:46 PM
WATCH: Sen. Paul presses Rubio on why Maduro ouster isn't an act of war
New information:
- Rand Paul directly asked Marco Rubio at the hearing whether bombing air defenses, capturing and removing Venezuela’s president, and blockading the country would constitute an act of war if done to the U.S.; Rubio replied that the U.S. operation 'doesn’t come anywhere close' to the constitutional definition of war but conceded it would be an act of war if done to America.
- Paul called the administration’s justification that the Maduro raid and dozens of lethal maritime 'drug bust' strikes are not a war 'a ruse,' saying 'we do what we do because we have the force, we have the might' and because it’s in U.S. interests.
- The article reiterates that President Trump has ordered the U.S. military to 'run' Venezuela’s oil exports, seizing multiple tankers and carrying out strikes that have killed at least 126 people, while offering little public evidence those killed were 'narcoterrorists.'
- It notes that congressional efforts to rein in Trump’s Venezuela operations via a War Powers resolution failed for lack of sufficient Republican support.
6:39 PM
Rubio warns NATO allies US is 'not simply focused on Europe,' doesn't have unlimited resources
New information:
- Rubio told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that he has explained to NATO allies that the U.S. has defense needs in Europe, the Western Hemisphere and the Indo‑Pacific and 'doesn't have unlimited resources.'
- He said the U.S. still benefits from NATO but that the alliance 'needs to be reimagined' in terms of member obligations, noting that multiple presidents have complained about burden-sharing but that Trump 'just complains about it louder.'
- Rubio reiterated that before Maduro’s Jan. 3 capture, the U.S. faced in its own hemisphere a regime run by 'an indicted narco‑trafficker' serving as a base of operations for 'virtually every competitor, adversary and enemy in the world,' and argued the U.S. is 'better off today in Venezuela than we were four weeks ago.'
5:49 PM
Rubio tells senators U.S. plan for Venezuela is ‘still in infancy’
New information:
- Rubio described the broader U.S. plan for Venezuela as 'still in its infancy' while claiming 'a lot of progress' on restoring diplomatic relations.
- He explicitly rejected assertions that the U.S. is occupying Venezuela, saying 'There is no war against Venezuela, and we did not occupy a country. There are no U.S. troops on the ground.'
- Rubio acknowledged ongoing bipartisan concern over Congress’ war powers and was pressed by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen about Trump’s continued threats to use force against acting president Delcy Rodríguez and other regime remnants.
- The article notes Rubio will meet immediately after the hearing with opposition figure María Corina Machado at the State Department, following her earlier White House visit where she handed Trump her Nobel medal, and says the U.S. is 'keeping close tabs' on Rodríguez as she pledges to open Venezuela’s oil sector to American firms.
5:41 PM
Rubio says US has no plan to use force in Venezuela — but warns ‘imminent threat’ could change that
New information:
- Rubio told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that the U.S. is not currently 'postured to, nor do we intend or expect to have to take any military action in Venezuela at any time,' beyond Marine guards at an embassy.
- He said the president would reserve the option to strike only in self‑defense if an unforeseen 'imminent threat' emerged, such as a hypothetical Iranian drone factory threatening U.S. forces or allies in Venezuela, but stressed 'we don’t anticipate that.'
- Rubio acknowledged prepared testimony language saying the U.S. is 'prepared to use force to ensure maximum cooperation if other methods fail,' but did not read that line aloud and downplayed it by emphasizing the lack of current plans for additional operations.
- He reiterated that there are no U.S. ground troops in Venezuela and framed the Maduro capture raid as an operation to 'aid law enforcement,' not a war or occupation, arguing that was why advance consultation with Congress did not occur.
- Rubio told senators that if U.S. forces became involved in a 'sustained' way in Venezuela, the administration would notify Congress within 48 hours and would need congressional approval if engagement lasted longer than 60 days under War Powers rules.
5:22 PM
Rubio testifies Maduro got multiple offers to leave Venezuela voluntarily
New information:
- Rubio, testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee as Secretary of State, reiterated that the U.S. made multiple offers for Nicolás Maduro to leave Venezuela voluntarily before the capture operation.
- The testimony directly characterizes the January raid as an operation to 'capture' Maduro and places Rubio’s earlier assurances about the mission in the context of formal Senate oversight.
- CBS confirms the timing and venue of Rubio’s remarks (a Foreign Relations Committee hearing) and that he publicly framed his comments as part of explaining the administration’s conduct in Venezuela.
4:58 PM
Watch: Rubio says Trump administration "made multiple attempts" to get Maduro to leave Venezuela
New information:
- Rubio told Sen. James Risch in a Senate setting that the Trump administration 'made multiple attempts' to get Nicolás Maduro to leave Venezuela before ordering the U.S. military operation to capture him.
- Rubio characterized Maduro as someone with whom 'you couldn't make a deal,' framing these attempts as unsuccessful efforts at a negotiated exit.
- The clip underscores that the military raid came only after these claimed failed negotiations, according to Rubio.
4:48 PM
Watch: Rubio lays out next steps in Venezuela after Maduro's capture
New information:
- CBS segment highlights that Rubio, as Secretary of State, laid out the administration’s 'goals and next steps' in Venezuela in Senate Foreign Relations testimony, not just his legal defense of the raid.
- The piece emphasizes that the administration’s Venezuela plan is being framed publicly as a sequel to the January operation that captured Nicolás Maduro and his wife, reinforcing that the raid is now treated as a starting point for a broader U.S. role.
- Rubio’s testimony is presented to a national TV audience as the administration’s central articulation of its Venezuela roadmap, signaling he is the key public face of post‑raid policy.
4:41 PM
WATCH: Coons, Rubio disagree on whether Congress should've been consulted before Maduro ouster
New information:
- Sen. Chris Coons stated the Trump administration did not properly consult Congress in the months leading up to the raid that ousted Nicolás Maduro, noting senior officials had told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that removal of Maduro 'wasn't on the table' while the military was already rehearsing the operation.
- Coons highlighted that U.S. maritime strikes on alleged drug‑trafficking boats near Venezuela had killed at least 126 people over nearly five months and argued that if there was time to practice the raid there was time to consult Congress.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio countered that the option to remove Maduro only crystallized in late December, describing the mission as a 'trigger‑based operation' dependent on a narrow window of aligned factors and therefore too time‑sensitive for advance congressional briefings.
1:08 PM
Rubio braces for Senate scrutiny over Venezuela
New information:
- NPR publishes Rubio’s prepared opening statement for the Jan. 28 Senate Foreign Relations hearing, in which he insists 'There is no war against Venezuela, and we did not occupy a country. There are no U.S. troops on the ground,' explicitly branding the Maduro raid as a law-enforcement action.
- Rubio’s prepared remarks say the U.S. aims to help Venezuela transition from a 'criminal state' and is 'closely monitoring' interim leader Delcy Rodríguez as she pledges to open the energy sector to American firms.
- He reiterates that 'we are prepared to use force to ensure maximum cooperation if other methods fail,' tying that threat directly to President Trump’s public stance.
- Ranking member Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s prepared statement questions whether 'the raid to arrest [Maduro] was worth it' and criticizes the ongoing U.S. naval blockade as costing American taxpayers 'hundreds of millions of dollars.'
- The piece frames this as Rubio’s highest‑profile test yet on Venezuela policy as senators probe the legality, costs and long‑term strategy of the U.S. operation.
11:00 AM
Rubio to testify about Venezuela at Senate hearing today
New information:
- Rubio’s prepared opening statement says the U.S. is "prepared to use force to ensure maximum cooperation if other methods fail" in dealing with Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez.
- He specifies U.S. expectations that Rodríguez grant American companies "preferential access" to Venezuelan oil production, channel oil revenues into purchasing U.S. goods, and end oil shipments to Cuba.
- Rubio frames the Maduro capture as a law‑enforcement 'arrest' of two narcotraffickers, insists "there is no war against Venezuela," and emphasizes there are no U.S. ground troops in the country.
- The article updates the toll from U.S. lethal maritime strikes, stating at least 126 people have been killed on alleged drug‑trafficking boats since Sept. 2, with the most recent strike on Jan. 23.
10:00 AM
Rubio scheduled to appear before Senate to outline Trump's Venezuela policy
New information:
- Rubio is scheduled to appear publicly before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at 10 a.m. Wednesday to outline the Trump administration’s Venezuela policy.
- Rubio and the administration successfully helped kill a bipartisan war-powers resolution on Venezuela by persuading GOP Sens. Todd Young and Josh Hawley to switch sides.
- Young and Hawley say they were convinced by assurances from Rubio and the administration that no further military action in Venezuela is expected and that Trump would come to Congress first if any new operations were contemplated.
- Rubio wrote a letter to Foreign Relations Chair James Risch pledging that any new military operations introducing U.S. forces into hostilities would comply with the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution’s written-notification requirements.
- Sen. Tim Kaine plans to file additional war-powers resolutions against Trump over potential actions in Greenland, Iran and other theaters, using privileged motions to keep pressure on GOP cracks over presidential war authority.
7:09 AM
Rubio set to warn of future military action if Venezuela's new leaders stray from US goals
New information:
- Rubio’s prepared opening statement for the Senate Foreign Relations hearing says the Trump administration 'is prepared to use force to ensure maximum cooperation if other methods fail' in Venezuela, while asserting 'there is no war against Venezuela' and 'no U.S. troops on the ground.'
- He will frame the January raid to capture Nicolás Maduro, ongoing lethal maritime strikes on suspected drug‑smuggling boats, and seizures of sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers as law‑enforcement support operations that do not violate the Constitution or war‑powers limits.
- The article notes that three dozen U.S. boat strikes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific have killed at least 126 people since September and that families of two Trinidadian fishermen killed in one strike have filed the first U.S. wrongful‑death suit over the campaign.
- Rubio is expected to reassure senators there are no U.S. ground troops in Venezuela while defending the administration’s plan to control Venezuelan oil 'for years to come,' even as Democrats argue that amounts to de facto occupation and long‑term resource control.
- He will acknowledge that acting President Delcy Rodríguez is 'cooperating' but underscore that the U.S. is ready to use additional force if she or other interim leaders deviate from U.S. demands.
January 27, 2026
8:33 PM
Trump hails Rubio as diplomatic mentor as secretary of state's power grows
New information:
- Trump publicly says at Davos that Rubio 'taught' him diplomacy and credits Rubio with coaching him on handling sensitive language with China’s Xi Jinping, including dropping the term 'China virus' after Xi objected.
- The article confirms Rubio is formally serving not only as Secretary of State but also as national security advisor and head of the National Archives, making him the first person since Henry Kissinger to run both the State Department and the White House National Security Council.
- An outside national‑security figure, Matthew Kroenig of the Atlantic Council, characterizes Rubio as effective and emphasizes that he 'channels' Trump’s instincts rather than trying to contain him, reinforcing accounts of Rubio as a principal architect of Trump’s foreign policy, especially on Venezuela.
8:14 PM
WATCH LIVE: Rubio testifies at Senate hearing on U.S. policy toward Venezuela
New information:
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to testify Wednesday at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing focused on U.S. policy toward Venezuela.
- The hearing follows within a week of the House’s 215–215 tied vote that blocked a Democratic‑backed war‑powers resolution aimed at restricting Trump’s ability to send U.S. forces to Venezuela.
- The article notes the hearing’s timing (10 a.m. EST) and that Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez publicly said in Caracas that her government 'takes no orders from external powers' while the Trump administration pressures her to invite more U.S. oil investment.
January 23, 2026
10:06 PM
The midterms are cracking Mike Johnson's grip on House votes
New information:
- Details that GOP leaders had to summon Rep. Wesley Hunt back from the campaign trail, arrange a police escort from the airport, and hold the vote open at 215–214 for nearly 30 minutes until he arrived.
- Clarification that Hunt has missed the majority of House votes this year because of a three‑way Texas Senate primary, and that Johnson said he had "expected" Hunt to be present this week.
- Context that on several days in 2026 so many Republicans were absent that the GOP lacked a working floor majority, intensifying leadership pressure on members to avoid missing votes.
- Illustrative example of 80‑year‑old Rep. Jim Baird appearing on the floor in a neck brace and badly bruised after a serious car accident to cast votes, cited by leaders as a model.
6:34 PM
GOP lawmaker's absence nearly hands Democrats win on Trump war powers
New information:
- Fox piece names Wesley Hunt’s absence and near‑missed vote as the central reason the Venezuela war‑powers resolution almost passed, detailing that he arrived about 20 minutes late after missing two earlier votes.
- It provides on‑record comments from Hunt, who refused to answer whether he was representing his constituents well and instead joked about making sure staff could leave town ahead of an approaching snowstorm.
- The article quantifies Hunt’s broader absenteeism: he missed 87 votes in 2025 (25.1% of all votes), including on condemning antisemitism, an anti‑deepfake porn bill, and procedural votes tied to Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
- It notes that Hunt also missed a same‑day procedural vote on spending to avoid a shutdown, which Republicans won by just one vote without him, and that Speaker Mike Johnson publicly conceded Hunt’s absence didn’t make his job 'any easier.'
- The story specifies that with Doug LaMalfa’s death and Marjorie Taylor Greene’s resignation, Republicans can now lose only two votes on party‑line measures, highlighting how Hunt’s pattern of absences materially increases governing risk.
1:09 AM
House Republicans barely defeat Venezuela war powers resolution to check Trump’s military actions
New information:
- Confirms Associated Press’s detailed account that the House vote was held open for more than 20 minutes while Rep. Wesley Hunt rushed back from Texas campaign travel to cast the deciding vote.
- Provides explicit floor quotes and framing from Rep. Brian Mast accusing Democrats of acting out of 'spite' and calling the Maduro raid 'possibly the most successful law enforcement operation in history.'
- Adds Rep. Gregory Meeks’ warning that Trump is reducing the U.S. to a 'regional bully' that is 'isolated and weak,' sharpening the Democratic argument for congressional war-powers oversight.
- Reiterates that the administration told senators there are 'no U.S. troops on the ground' in Venezuela and promised to seek authorization for 'major' operations, which Democrats say is not enough after the Maduro raid and oil-control plans.
12:49 AM
House Republicans barely defeat war powers resolution to check Trump's military actions in Venezuela
New information:
- PBS/AP piece confirms House Republican leaders held the vote open for more than 20 minutes while Rep. Wesley Hunt raced back from Texas campaigning to cast the decisive vote against the resolution.
- It specifies that two Republicans — Reps. Don Bacon (Neb.) and Thomas Massie (Ky.) — voted with all Democrats for the war‑powers measure.
- It adds on‑the‑record floor quotes: Armed Services Chair Brian Mast accusing Democrats of acting out of 'spite' and calling the Maduro raid 'possibly the most successful law enforcement operation in history,' and Rep. Gregory Meeks saying Trump is 'reducing the United States to a regional bully.'
- It clarifies the administration’s assurance to senators that no U.S. ground troops are currently in Venezuela and that it would seek congressional approval before 'major military operations,' even as Trump talks about controlling Venezuela’s oil 'for years to come.'
12:16 AM
Republican-led House blocks effort to limit President Trump's war powers in Venezuela
New information:
- The House held a separate vote on a Venezuela war powers resolution led by Rep. Jim McGovern and it failed on a 215–215 tie, with all Democrats and two Republicans (Thomas Massie and Don Bacon) voting in favor.
- The House measure would have required the U.S. to remove any military presence from Venezuela unless the president obtained congressional authorization for further military action.
- House Foreign Affairs Chair Brian Mast framed the Jan. 3 'Operation Absolute Resolve' invasion and capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife as a completed 'law enforcement action' rather than ongoing hostilities, echoing the GOP legal rationale seen in the Senate fight.
- Rank‑and‑file Republicans are described as uneasy and feeling blindsided over Trump’s Venezuela escalation and lack of clarity about the long‑term plan, but most still declined to back formal war‑powers limits.
January 22, 2026
10:35 PM
House GOP staves off rebuke to Trump over Venezuela military action
New information:
- The House took up a Venezuela-focused war-powers resolution and, under Republican control, prevented it from advancing, staving off what would have been a formal House rebuke of President Trump’s ongoing military operations there.
- The measure was procedurally blocked despite significant Democratic support and some Republican unease over Trump’s seizure of Venezuelan oil and continuing military footprint.
- The vote confirms that, for now, there will be no binding congressional constraint on Trump’s Venezuela campaign, reinforcing the earlier Senate move that removed the resolution’s privileged status.
January 21, 2026
2:04 PM
Secretary Rubio scheduled to face former colleagues on Venezuela policy
New information:
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to testify publicly before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Jan. 28 at 10 a.m. about the administration’s actions in Venezuela.
- Fox reports that returning to the Senate to brief lawmakers on Venezuela and Caribbean operations has become 'fairly routine' for Rubio in recent months amid transparency demands.
- Rubio’s written letter to Foreign Relations Chair James Risch, restated to Sen. Todd Young, pledged that if President Trump decides to introduce U.S. armed forces into 'hostilities in major military operations in Venezuela,' he would seek congressional authorization in advance, 'circumstances permitting.'
- Sen. Tim Kaine plans to keep filing additional war powers resolutions and related measures to challenge Trump’s emergency declarations, wars, human‑rights reporting and arms transfers.
January 15, 2026
6:22 PM
Two Republicans flip support for war powers resolution in Senate to limit Trump on Venezuela
New information:
- CBS emphasizes that Sens. Josh Hawley and Todd Young were specifically lobbied by the Trump administration and then withdrew their prior support for the Venezuela war-powers resolution.
- The piece foregrounds the administration’s direct lobbying effort as the key factor in flipping their votes, rather than just generic 'private assurances.'
2:07 AM
Senate Republicans block Venezuela war powers resolution
New information:
- NPR piece specifies the final Senate vote total as 51–50 and confirms Vice President JD Vance cast the tie‑breaking vote.
- It names Sens. Josh Hawley and Todd Young as the two Republicans who flipped from backing the resolution procedurally to voting to block it on the final vote.
- Hawley says his concerns were alleviated after speaking directly with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, while Young cites assurances from senior national‑security officials that there are no American troops in Venezuela and a commitment that the administration will seek congressional authorization in advance for any future 'major military operations' there.
- The article recounts Trump’s public threat that the five initial GOP defectors 'should lose their seats,' underscoring the pressure campaign that preceded the flips.
- It notes that the other three GOP defectors—Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Rand Paul—held their original pro‑resolution positions.
January 14, 2026
11:56 PM
Senate GOP kills war powers effort to limit Trump on Venezuela, with Vance breaking tie
New information:
- Details that Republicans used a procedural maneuver to strip the Kaine resolution of its 'privileged' War Powers status on grounds that the U.S. is not currently in 'hostilities' with Venezuela.
- Direct quote from Senate Majority Leader John Thune asserting there are no U.S. troops on the ground or current military operations in Venezuela.
- On‑record explanation from Josh Hawley that Secretary of State Marco Rubio personally assured him the administration will not put U.S. ground troops in Venezuela and would seek congressional authorization if that changes.
- Todd Young’s claim that GOP senators obtained 'valuable reassurances and deliverables' from the White House on Venezuela policy and that, in his view, the resolution would have faced a Trump veto even if it cleared Congress.
- Additional context that Trump publicly attacked the Republican backers as people who 'should never be elected to office again' and called them 'real losers' in a Detroit Economic Club speech, adding to pressure behind the flip.
11:35 PM
Senate GOP succeeds in last-minute move to block Venezuela vote
New information:
- Confirms the procedural motion to block the war‑powers resolution passed 51–50, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie‑breaking vote.
- Identifies Sens. Josh Hawley and Todd Young as decisive Republican flips who supported the resolution last week but voted with leadership on the blocking motion.
- Details Young’s rationale: assurances from Secretary of State Marco Rubio — including repeated calls and texts — that the administration will come to Congress first if U.S. forces are needed in Venezuela, and Rubio’s written emphasis that there are no U.S. troops on the ground there.
- Reports that GOP leaders argued the fast‑track War Powers process doesn’t apply because there are currently no U.S. troops in Venezuela, and that Rubio formalized this in a letter to Foreign Relations Chair James Risch.
- Notes that Democrats previously used a similar procedural tactic in 2024 to avoid a vote on Sen. Ted Cruz’s Gaza pier war‑powers resolution, giving Republicans political cover for this maneuver.
11:32 PM
Key Republicans flip, kill effort to restrain Trump's policing power over Venezuela
New information:
- Confirms the Venezuela war powers resolution was defeated 51–50 after Republicans successfully invoked a rarely used procedural move to strip it of privileged status.
- Identifies Sens. Josh Hawley and Todd Young as the decisive GOP flips from last week’s pro‑Kaine vote to today’s vote killing the resolution.
- Details that Vice President JD Vance broke the 50–50 tie in Trump’s favor.
- Reports that Hawley reversed his position after private assurances from Trump officials that no U.S. ground troops will be deployed to Venezuela without separate congressional approval.
- Reports that Young flipped after receiving specific 'deliverables' from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, including a commitment that Trump will seek authorization from Congress before any future use of force against Venezuela and that Rubio will testify publicly before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee with an update on the region.
- Quotes Majority Leader John Thune arguing the resolution was not 'germane' because 'we don't have troops in Venezuela,' citing the absence of current 'kinetic' operations or 'boots on the ground.'
- Notes Trump personally pressured GOP defectors and publicly said they 'should never be elected to office again' before Hawley and Young changed course.
11:25 PM
GOP senators flip votes to squash Venezuela war powers resolution
New information:
- PBS clarifies that GOP leadership used a procedural point of order to declare the resolution out of order on grounds that the U.S. is not 'actively engaged' in hostilities in Venezuela, rather than simply defeating it on a straight up‑or‑down vote.
- It specifies that Sens. Josh Hawley and Todd Young were the two Republicans who flipped from supporting the resolution procedurally last week to backing the leadership’s move to set it aside.
- The piece notes that three Republicans — Susan Collins, Rand Paul and Lisa Murkowski — still supported allowing the resolution to proceed despite the leadership’s maneuver.
- It underscores that, as a result, President Trump’s war powers with respect to Venezuela remain 'completely intact' and that the push for a full, substantive war‑powers debate in the Senate was effectively short‑circuited.
6:08 PM
WATCH LIVE: Senate expected to hold vote on war powers resolution
New information:
- Confirms the Senate is expected to hold the final vote on the Venezuela war powers resolution on Wednesday and is streaming the floor debate.
- Details Trump’s latest public attacks on GOP senators who backed advancing the measure, including calling Sen. Rand Paul a 'stone cold loser' and Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins 'disasters.'
- Reports that Sen. Josh Hawley is reconsidering his support after calls with Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and that Rubio assured him 'we're not going to do ground troops' in Venezuela.
- Notes that Sen. Todd Young is also reconsidering and that Sen. Tim Kaine frames the fight as Congress trying to 'be Congress' and resist being made irrelevant on war powers.
5:14 PM
Senate GOP moves to block Dems' war powers push, preserve Trump's authority in rare move
New information:
- Republican leaders are considering using a rare 'point of order' to table Sen. Tim Kaine’s Venezuela war powers resolution by arguing there are no current U.S. hostilities in Venezuela, which would strip it of privileged status.
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune says it is 'uncertain' whether Republicans have the 50 votes needed to sustain the point of order but argues there are no present hostilities so the resolution should not get expedited floor treatment.
- The piece details that five Republicans—Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Todd Young, Josh Hawley and Rand Paul—broke with Trump to advance the resolution and are the key swing votes GOP leaders and the White House are trying to flip.
- Republicans explicitly invoke a 2024 Democratic precedent, when Senate Democrats used the same procedural argument to block a Ted Cruz war powers resolution over a Gaza pier operation, to justify their move now.
- The Trump administration has privately assured several GOP senators that there are 'no boots on the ground' and that no further military action in Venezuela is planned after Operation Absolute Resolve, and is using those assurances to argue Kaine’s measure is purely hypothetical.