The U.S. Senate has dealt a rare political blow to Donald Trump. Just five days after the dramatic military operation that led to the apprehension of Nicolás Maduro, a majority of senators voted to block any new U.S. military action in Venezuela without explicit approval from Congress.
Un vote bipartisan qui fissure le camp républicain
The upper chamber, controlled by Republicans, voted 52 to 47 to advance a resolution under the War Powers Act. The text aims to prevent the Trump administration from launching new strikes or military operations in Venezuela without prior congressional authorization.
Five Republican senators joined all the Democrats, a politically significant move in a highly polarized environment. This vote marks the most explicit criticism, at this stage, of the president’s interventionist strategy within his own party.
L’opération Maduro ravive les tensions institutionnelles
The vote comes in an explosive atmosphere. The U.S. intervention that led to Nicolás Maduro’s arrest took place without prior notification to Congress, fueling institutional unease. While many Republican lawmakers initially supported the operation, the idea of a prolonged military involvement is beginning to raise concerns.
Several senators explained their vote out of fear of escalation. The White House’s statements suggesting the possibility of ‘managing’ Venezuela, and even expanding operations to other Latin American countries or strategic territories like Greenland, have heightened these concerns.
Trump contre-attaque et dénonce une atteinte à ses pouvoirs
Donald Trump wasted no time in reacting. He harshly criticized the Republicans who supported the resolution on social media, accusing them of jeopardizing national security and undermining the president’s authority as commander-in-chief.
According to him, the vote hampers the U.S.’ ability to defend itself and is an unacceptable attempt to diminish the executive’s military powers. A classic interpretation of the conflict between presidential powers and congressional oversight, but rarely expressed with such intensity by a president against his own party.
Une mise en garde contre une guerre qui s’installe
For senators in favor of the resolution, the message is clear: it’s not about questioning past operations, but about preventing uncontrolled escalation. Several lawmakers emphasized that they refused to get involved in a scenario of long-term military presence or ‘boots on the ground’.
The central argument resurfaces like a refrain: Donald Trump promised to end endless wars. Prolonged involvement in Venezuela would contradict this commitment, even if it was not initially planned as such.
Un signal politique fort, mais pas décisif
The resolution still has to pass several legislative stages before taking full effect. It does not retroactively prevent the operation already carried out, but it sends a powerful political signal to the White House.
Beyond Venezuela, this vote illustrates a growing concern in Congress regarding the increasingly aggressive use of military force by the executive branch. For markets and international observers, it adds a new layer of geopolitical uncertainty, in a context already marked by strong diplomatic and financial tensions.
