"The resolution's defeat came less than a week after five Republicans broke ranks with their party and joined Democrats on a procedural vote to advance the measure -- a rare rebuke for President Trump from within the GOP. The initial vote was an immediate response to the surprise operation earlier this month that led to the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Those votes drew a furious response from President Trump, who called for the Republican defectors to lose their seats in Congress."
"By Wednesday, Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., was able to flip two of those five Republican votes against the measure. The final vote was 51 to 50, with Vice President JD Vance brought in to break a tie. The resolution was blocked with the support of Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Todd Young, R-Ind., two of the five Republicans who had sided earlier with Democrats. Speaking to reporters, Hawley said his concerns about U.S. intervention in Venezuela had been alleviated by speaking with Secretary of State Marco Rubio."
"For his part, Young said he changed his mind after receiving assurances from senior national security officials "that there are no American troops in Venezuela." "I've also received a commitment that if President Trump were to determine American forces are needed in major military operations in Venezuela, the Administration will come to Congress in advance to ask for an authorization of force," Young said in a statement."
Senate Republicans defeated a war powers resolution that would have required President Trump to obtain congressional authorization before conducting further military operations in Venezuela. The vote followed an earlier procedural advance supported by five Republicans who joined Democrats in response to a surprise operation that resulted in the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Majority Leader John Thune flipped two Republicans, and Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote. Senators Josh Hawley and Todd Young cited assurances from administration and national security officials about the absence of American troops and commitments to seek congressional authorization for any major future operations. Three Republicans — Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Rand Paul — remained opposed to the block.
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