US Lawmakers Vow to Block Trump's Venezuela Strike
In a joint statement, a group of US senators from both parties vowed on Tuesday to block President Donald Trump's plans to use US forces to attack Venezuela. The resolution aims to force a congressional vote on the issue, citing concerns over the administration's actions in the country.
The move comes amid a months-long military buildup against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government, with at least 21 strikes carried out by US troops in recent weeks, killing over 80 people. Lawmakers are concerned that the president's actions may violate international law and put American lives at risk.
"We have repeatedly tried to rein in this administration's aggression towards Venezuela, but unfortunately, we've seen no signs of change," said Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.). "Unauthorized military action against Venezuela would be a colossal and costly mistake that needlessly risks the lives of our servicemembers."
The statement was signed by Democrats Kaine, Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Republicans Rand Paul (R-Ky.) as well. The lawmakers are concerned over the administration's actions without congressional approval and the use of force in international waters.
Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.Dak.) expressed concerns over the legality of the strikes, saying "But my understanding is that we may have a problem if you're killing survivors in the water after a strike." He added that once facts are ascertained, lawmakers will make determinations on the matter.
The move comes as several Republican lawmakers have launched investigations into the US military campaign off the coast of Venezuela. Trump's Republicans in the Senate previously blocked resolutions aimed at preventing him from attacking Venezuelan territory without congressional authorization.
The White House has defended its actions, saying that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth authorized Admiral Frank Bradley to conduct the strikes on September 2. The administration claims that the strikes were conducted to protect US interests and took place in international waters.
In a joint statement, a group of US senators from both parties vowed on Tuesday to block President Donald Trump's plans to use US forces to attack Venezuela. The resolution aims to force a congressional vote on the issue, citing concerns over the administration's actions in the country.
The move comes amid a months-long military buildup against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government, with at least 21 strikes carried out by US troops in recent weeks, killing over 80 people. Lawmakers are concerned that the president's actions may violate international law and put American lives at risk.
"We have repeatedly tried to rein in this administration's aggression towards Venezuela, but unfortunately, we've seen no signs of change," said Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.). "Unauthorized military action against Venezuela would be a colossal and costly mistake that needlessly risks the lives of our servicemembers."
The statement was signed by Democrats Kaine, Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Republicans Rand Paul (R-Ky.) as well. The lawmakers are concerned over the administration's actions without congressional approval and the use of force in international waters.
Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.Dak.) expressed concerns over the legality of the strikes, saying "But my understanding is that we may have a problem if you're killing survivors in the water after a strike." He added that once facts are ascertained, lawmakers will make determinations on the matter.
The move comes as several Republican lawmakers have launched investigations into the US military campaign off the coast of Venezuela. Trump's Republicans in the Senate previously blocked resolutions aimed at preventing him from attacking Venezuelan territory without congressional authorization.
The White House has defended its actions, saying that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth authorized Admiral Frank Bradley to conduct the strikes on September 2. The administration claims that the strikes were conducted to protect US interests and took place in international waters.
, but it's kinda ironic that they're trying to block Trump's plan now when his admin has been escalating tensions in Venezuela for months already 
, what's really going on here? are they just trying to save face or are they genuinely concerned about the situation and international law?
, it feels like there's always someone standing in the way of progress.
, but until then, let's keep an eye on how things play out 
like what if they got caught and had to deal with international law and stuff? 
btw did u guys know that my favorite band is playing at a concert downtown next month? 
. Trump's actions are really concerning, not just for Venezuela, but also for the US 
. If he goes through with his plans without congressional approval, that's a big no-no 
. I mean, we've seen how things can escalate and end up causing more harm than good 
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. And with all the investigations going on, it's like everyone's trying to get to the bottom of things 
. The fact that several Republican lawmakers are investigating this too is interesting - I guess you can't just assume one party is against the other party's actions 
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. We need to be careful not to make things worse, especially when it comes to international relations 
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. congress needs to hold him accountable 4 his actions, not let him run wild like a cowboy in the wild west 
. and btw, even if trump thinks he's doing it 4 US interests, what about venezuelans who r already sufferin'? shouldn't we be tryin' 2 help them out instead of just intervenin' w/ force? 
, and I'm like, who needs Venezuela drama when you have cats being adorable? I mean, I know it's not exactly related to geopolitics... but honestly, what's the point of having so much power if we can't even enjoy some cute animal videos in our downtime? My cat at home does that exact same thing and I'm like, "Dude, calm down, you're not a rockstar"... but I guess cats are secretly better than politicians 
. And have you ever tried to get your cat to play the piano while simultaneously making lunch? Forget about it... my cat just knocks over the pot of spaghetti and then looks at me like, "What's the big deal?" 
. But seriously, 80 people dead and a bunch of senators are like "oh no, let's vote on it now"... meanwhile, Trump is just gonna keep doing whatever he wants, because that's how the game is played 
my heart goes out to those affected by this situation... it's crazy how quickly things can escalate into a full-blown crisis 
and it sounds like lawmakers are really trying to stay on top of things. 80 people have lost their lives already... that's just devastating 
and I totally get why the senators are pushing back against the administration's actions - we should always prioritize our own country's interests, but also have a conscience about how we're treating other nations 
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I dunno, I'm torn. Can we just have like 5 different opinions on this one thing and call it a day? 
It's just so reckless and irresponsible. I'm all for America being a world power, but not at the expense of our own lives and our values! 
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. I mean, I get that the situation in Venezuela is super dire, but attacking it with guns and tanks doesn't seem like the answer to me 
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. This is what happens when you have a leader who doesn't care about the rule of law or international relations 
I mean, if there was a legitimate reason, wouldn't the administration be transparent about it? This whole thing reeks of desperation and poor diplomacy 
. Trump needs to figure out what he actually wants in Venezuela instead of going rogue 
. I mean, it's not easy to stand up against a president who's got his back on everything.