US Congress Moves to Block Trump’s Venezuela War in Emergency Vote, Lawmakers Sound Alarm
The US Congress has moved swiftly to curb President Donald Trump’s unilateral actions in Venezuela, passing an emergency measure aimed at blocking further military escalation and preventing a prolonged occupation. Lawmakers from both chambers argued that the operation to seize Venezuela’s leadership amounted to an unconstitutional act of war, carried out without consultation, authorization, or oversight from Congress as required under the US Constitution.
Members of Congress warned that the situation mirrors past foreign policy disasters. Veteran lawmakers and combat veterans invoked the ghosts of Iraq and Afghanistan, where regime-change operations led to decades of conflict, trillions of dollars in spending, and massive loss of life. They stressed that deposing a foreign leader and claiming to “run” another country squarely falls under Congress’s war powers, not the president’s unilateral authority.
Beyond the legal issues, lawmakers emphasized the severe damage to America’s global reputation. Critics said Trump has transformed the United States into a bully on the world stage, openly disregarding national sovereignty and international law. They warned that this behavior gives Russia and China implicit permission to pursue similar actions in places like Taiwan, Eastern Europe, and NATO-aligned states, weakening US alliances and global stability.
A central theme of the congressional backlash was Trump’s framing of foreign policy as a business deal. Lawmakers accused him of treating Venezuela like a corporate acquisition, with its vast oil reserves as the real prize. Senior Democrats argued that the operation was never about law enforcement or democracy, but about restoring US control over Venezuelan oil for American corporations and political insiders.
Critics also highlighted the absence of any credible plan for what comes next. While Trump claimed the United States is now “running” Venezuela, lawmakers noted that the existing power structure remains largely intact, with ministers, military leaders, and state media still operating. Congress warned that removing a single leader without dismantling the broader regime risks chaos, insurgency, and long-term US entanglement.
The emergency congressional action seeks to reassert legislative authority, demand full briefings, and block funding for any expanded military involvement. Lawmakers stressed that the American people overwhelmingly oppose another foreign war and that US troops must not be used as props in political theater. As Congress steps in, the message to the White House is clear: war powers belong to the people’s representatives, and the era of unchecked intervention must end.
