Senate expected to vote on Venezuela war powers resolution Wednesday
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks with U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) on the day of a briefing for the House of Representatives on the situation in Venezuela, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., Jan. 7, 2026.
Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters
The Senate on Wednesday is expected to vote on a resolution to halt President Donald Trump from using the military in Venezuela.
The measure, known as a war powers resolution, advanced in a procedural vote last week after five Republican senators joined with Democrats to vote for it — a stunning defeat for Trump after he ordered a strike that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
In the days since, the White House has engaged in a furious lobbying effort to kill the measure.
It’s so far unclear if any of the five senators who voted for the resolution last week will flip. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., one of the senators who voted for the measure, said earlier this week that the administration has been persuasive in addressing his concerns.
“The interaction has been really positive,” Hawley said in an interview with reporters earlier this week.
Trump himself has been clear: He’s demanding the Senate defeat the measure. After it advanced last week, he said the group of five that voted for it should never be elected to office again.
The measure would likely be largely symbolic, as it would have to survive a Trump veto even if it advances from the Senate and the Republican controlled House. A two-thirds majority is needed in both the House and Senate to override a veto, while the resolution is only subject to a simple majority threshold.
This story is developing. Please check back for updates.
