House Democrats will push for war power votes as Trump mocks attack on Venezuela

Washington – House Democrats plan to force votes Wednesday on bilateral war resolutions amid rising tensions with Venezuela as President Trump warned that global strikes against the country could begin “soon.”

The threats of Mr. Trump comes amid a months-long military operation against suspected drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean that has killed at least 95 people.

The first measure, introduced by Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, we will remove the US armed forces from “fighting any terrorist organization designated by the president in the Western Hemisphere,” unless Congress declares war or authorizes the use of military force for such purposes.

The second step from Democratic Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts will remove the armed forces from “fighting in or against Venezuela that is not authorized by Congress.”

McGovern’s decision may face the best chance of adoption, as it has three GOP sponsors – Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Don Bacon of Nebraska. Bacon said he would also vote for Meeks’ measure.

Under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, the president is required to consult with Congress “whenever practicable” before launching armed forces into combat, unless there is a declaration of war or other congressional authorization. But the White House has argued that the decades-old rule applies to boat strikes because it doesn’t consider the attacks to put crew members at risk.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth held two separate briefings Tuesday for all senators and members of the House. The House and Senate Armed Services Committees received a more detailed briefing Wednesday with Navy Adm. Frank Bradley, who ordered it to be second strike killing the survivors of the first strike of September 2.

Meeks left Tuesday’s House briefing saying members did not receive an adequate explanation for why the Trump administration did not contact Congress before the strikes. He also questioned the president’s motives.

“It doesn’t appear to be about drug trafficking,” Meeks told reporters Tuesday. “So if this is about regime change, it seems to me that the administration should say that, and they should come to Congress and ask for that authorization, which hasn’t happened yet.”

Bacon said after Wednesday’s briefing that he would vote to authorize military action against Venezuela, but he still believes Mr. Trump needs to get approval from Congress.

“I think there’s enough support in Congress to get it passed,” Bacon said. “The intention is good, but the continuation of the war requires congressional approval.”

The day before the vote, Vanity Fair published a piece based on nearly a dozen interviews with Mr. Trump’s chief of staff. Trump Susie Wiles, where she said the president “wants to keep blowing up boats until [Venezuelan President Nicolás] Maduro is crying uncle. And people are smarter than me in what they say you will do. “

This statement seems to contradict the administration’s decision that they are conducting strikes to stop the flow of drugs to the US, not to oust Maduro.

Wiles acknowledged that the global strikes would require congressional approval.

“If he were to authorize a certain activity in the world, then it means war [we’d need] Congress,” he told Vanity Fair.

In further escalation of Mr. Trump of pressure against Maduro, the president said on Tuesday that he declares the government of Venezuela as a “foreign terrorist organization” and asked “complete and total prohibition” for all oil tankers allowed to enter or leave Venezuela.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson said on Tuesday that the President has the authority to order the boats to strike under his constitutional authority.

“It’s absolutely worth it,” the Louisiana Republican told reporters. “It is important to protect the United States and our interests.”

The House votes followed two failed attempts in the Senate to block Mr. Trump to continue the war against drug companies without the approval of Congress. A third Senate vote could happen as soon as this week.

Grace Kazarian and Patrick Maguire contributed to this report.