President Donald Trump lashed out at U.S. Sen. Susan Collins and the four other Republicans who voted Thursday for the war powers resolution that would limit his ability to conduct further attacks against Venezuela.
The 52-47 vote in the Senate was a significant gesture that showed unease among some Republicans after the U.S. military seized Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in a surprise nighttime raid. However, it has no chance of becoming law because Trump would have to sign it if it were to pass the Republican-controlled House.
Trump’s harsh criticism of Collins is significant because she is the only Republican up for reelection next year in a Democratic-leaning state. Her party is heavily invested in winning her a sixth term that is crucial to retaining control of the chamber.
In a social media post after the vote, he said Collins and the four other Republicans who voted with her on the Democratic-backed resolution — Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Josh Hawley of Missouri and Todd Young of Indiana — “should never be elected to office again” and called their vote “stupidity.”
He went on to argue that the War Powers Resolution, a Vietnam-era law that is aimed at limiting a President’s power to commit troops to conflict without Congressional approval, was unconstitutional.
Collins did not immediately comment on Trump’s criticism. In a statement, she explained her vote by reiterating her support for Maduro’s capture but said she does not support committing additional U.S. forces or entering into any long-term military involvement without congressional approval in either Venezuela or Greenland, the Danish territory that Trump has said he wants to join the U.S.
The Trump administration is now seeking to control Venezuela’s oil resources and its government, but the war powers resolution would require congressional approval for any further attacks on the South American country.
Democrats had failed to pass several such resolutions in the months that Trump escalated his campaign against Venezuela. Collins voted against a resolution aimed at that country in November. But lawmakers argued that now that Trump has captured Maduro and set his sights to other conquests such as Greenland, the vote presents Congress with an opportunity.
“It’s time for Congress to assert its control over military action of this kind, and it’s time to get this out of secrecy and put it in the light,” said Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, who forced the vote.
Republican leaders have said they had no advance notification of the raid early morning Saturday to seize Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, but mostly expressed satisfaction this week as top administration officials provided classified briefings on the operation.
The administration has used an evolving set of legal justifications for the monthslong campaign in Central and South America, from destroying alleged drug boats under authorizations for the global fight against terrorism to seizing Maduro in what was ostensibly a law enforcement operation to put him on trial in the United States. Republican leaders have backed Trump.
“I think the president has demonstrated at least already a very strong commitment to peace through strength, especially in this hemisphere,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota. “I think Venezuela got that message loudly and clearly.”
BDN writer Michael Shepherd contributed to this report.
