Senate Moves to Curb Trump’s Power to Launch Strike on Venezuela Amid GOP Divisions

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00:00Senate moves to curb Trump's power to launch strike on Venezuela amid GOP divisions.

00:06The Senate voted Thursday to curb President Donald Trump's authority to attack Venezuela,

00:10pressing for oversight of an escalating Caribbean military campaign.

00:15According to the Associated Press, the measure by Senator Tim Kaine would require Congress to

00:19approve any strike on Venezuelan soil. We're tired of Congress abdicating this

00:24most solemn power to a president, Kaine said. Though unlikely to become law,

00:29the legislation forced senators to take a public stance on Trump's policy toward Venezuelan

00:34President Nicolas Maduro as the U.S. built up its naval presence in the region, a move co-sponsor

00:39Senator Adam Schiff called an open secret aimed at regime change. Lawmakers in both parties sought

00:45details on recent U.S. strikes on drug smuggling vessels, and some Republicans said Congress

00:50wasn't consulted. It just seems like there's this pigpen-like mess coming out of the policy shop,

00:56said Senator Tom Cotton, criticizing the Pentagon's policy office.

01:00To ease concerns, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth briefed leaders

01:06on the strike's legal basis. They did not address whether a direct attack on Venezuela is being

01:11considered. Democrats and Senator Rand Paul invoked the 1973 War Powers Resolution to reassert

01:17congressional control. A similar vote narrowly failed last month. GOP leaders urged a no vote,

01:23while Senator Lindsey Graham backed Trump's aggressive tactics.

01:28I like the idea that our commander-in-chief is telling narco-terrorist organizations,

01:32you're not only a foreign terrorist organization, but we're going to take you out, Graham said.

01:38Senator Susan Collins said she is still reviewing the administration's secret legal opinion,

01:44as some Republicans remain undecided. Senator Tom Tillis opposed the resolution,

01:49but questioned costs, suggesting funds be shifted to border security.

01:52If the campaign continues for several months more, then we have to have a real discussion

01:58about whether or not we're engaging in some sort of hybrid war, he said.

02:02Congress has got to just stand up and be counted. Or not, Caney added.