President Donald Trump addresses the media during a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago club on Jan. 3, 2026, in Palm Beach, Fla. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Kaine’s resolution would effectively end any further military operations involving Venezuela without explicit congressional approval. It was one of many bids since Trump took office last year by the bipartisan group to claw back Congress’ authority in weighing in on military action.
The outcome of the vote remained an open question, even just moments before the final gavel.
The defectors were on the fence on whether to rein Trump in following a classified briefing with administration officials on Operation Absolute Resolve, the codename of the mission to capture former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Their issues weren’t necessarily with the actual operation itself, but with what comes next. And more specifically, if there would be further military activity in the country.
"We were told that there are currently no boots on the ground. Is it an option? What I heard was that everything is an option," Hawley said.
KENNEDY SAYS MILITARY ACTION ON GREENLAND WOULD BE 'WEAPONS-GRADE STUPID' AS GOP RESISTS FORCE
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., speaks to reporters as he moves through the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Heather Diehl/Getty Images)
Greenland reemerged as a hot topic on the Hill this week, following comments from Trump officials that indicated that military action wasn’t off the table to capture the colossal, resource-rich Arctic territory, where the U.S. already has a military base.
Several Republicans like the idea of purchasing the territory from Denmark but have not yet committed to claiming it by force. There are other countries that have entered or long been in Trump’s crosshairs for conquest, too, that the duo want to ensure Congress has a say on.
"We’re going to be working with others to file resolutions about Cuba, Mexico, Colombia and Greenland," Kaine said. "And Nigeria — people didn't pay attention but there was a U.S. military strike in Nigeria."
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Paul said he would likely support future war powers resolutions, given his strong feelings about Congress’ constitutional authority.
"I've supported most of them, all of them," Paul said. "I probably will continue to support them, because I — there's some symbolism to this too, and symbolism is over, who should initiate and declare war, which I feel strongly about."
Alex Miller is a writer for Fox News Digital covering the U.S. Senate.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-senators-join-democrats-stop-trump-from-policing-venezuela