The U.S. House of Representatives failed to pass a resolution Thursday that aimed to block then-President Donald Trump from deploying U.S. military forces to Venezuela. The vote on the Democratic-backed resolution resulted in a tie, falling short of the majority needed for passage.
The outcome highlighted the challenges faced by then-House Speaker Mike Johnson in maintaining party unity and also reflected growing unease within the Republican-controlled Congress regarding the Trump administration's policies in the Western Hemisphere. Republican leaders held the vote open for over 20 minutes to secure the necessary votes to defeat the resolution.
The resolution was introduced amid concerns about potential U.S. military intervention in Venezuela, which was experiencing political and economic instability. Proponents of the resolution argued that Congress should have a say in any decision to deploy troops, citing constitutional authority over matters of war. Opponents maintained that the president has the authority to act in defense of U.S. national security interests.
A similar resolution in the Senate also faced a tied vote the previous week, before Senator J.D. Vance broke the deadlock. The resolutions were largely symbolic, as they would likely have faced a veto from then-President Trump.
The debate over the resolution reflected broader divisions in Congress regarding U.S. foreign policy toward Venezuela, with Democrats generally favoring diplomatic solutions and Republicans more inclined to support a tougher stance against the Maduro regime. The failure of the resolution underscores the ongoing tensions between the executive and legislative branches over foreign policy decision-making.
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