Posted on 01/03/2026 4:04:34 AM PST by RandFan
Did President Trump seek authority from Congress to attack Venezuela?
The short answer is no. There is no indication that Donald Trump sought or received advance authorization from Congress before ordering the strikes.
Last month, Trump publicly stated that he did not believe congressional approval was required to launch attacks against targets in Venezuela, including strikes on land. He said he might brief Congress but would not seek formal legal authorization.
In December, Republicans, joined by a small number of Democrats, voted down two separate War Powers resolutions in the House of Representatives that would have required congressional approval for future military action against Venezuela. As a result, Congress did not impose new statutory limits on the president’s authority.
What powers does Trump have to attack Venezuela? Under the U.S. Constitution, only Congress has the power to declare war. However, the president serves as commander in chief of the armed forces, a role that presidents of both parties have interpreted as granting broad authority to use military force without a formal declaration of war.
The key modern statute governing this area is the War Powers Resolution of 1973. Under the law, the president may introduce U.S. forces into hostilities only in limited circumstances, including a national emergency created by an attack on the United States, its territories, or its armed forces. The Trump administration appears to be relying on this emergency rationale in the Venezuela case.
The law also requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of introducing U.S. forces into hostilities or into foreign territory while equipped for combat. As of now, there is no public confirmation that such a notification has been submitted.
Once U.S. forces are introduced into hostilities, the War Powers Resolution gives the president 60 days to withdraw them..
(Excerpt) Read more at en.as.com ...
Perhaps a long stint in Gitmo for him..
I hear some senators are livid but we'll see how it plays out...
I think they've already been withdrawn and aren't going back.
I expect to see the elected President to assume office, and the people rally around him.
-PJ
Hopefully Trump will send in Delta Force to capture the ayatollah and Mamdani to bring them to justice as well.
congress has long been derelict on its duties—balanced budget, oversight, war powers.
i believe troops will be withdrawn quickly, and i believe the numbers of overdoses has dropped significantly.
Eff Congress. Especially the Senate.
Im sure nobody in the Executive branch thought about all the legal stuff beforehand even though this thing was planned many months ago.. oh noes I have the vapors!
It doesn’t need to authorize it. He just needs to inform them.
Then he has 90 days to wrap it up.
Gov. Walz of Minnesota as well. I want to see US Marshals frog march that thieving SOB out of MN. dressed like a traffic cone.
My thoughts are that the drug boats constituted an attack on our country and the only ones crying are a few Republicans all rodents and all Surrender Monkeys. Whose job is to undermine trust in Trump,
This is a distraction from that.
Hat tip to Political Junkie Too:
President Trump allowed the duly elected President to assume office.
Remember, the Nobel Peace Prize was just awarded to Maria Corina Machado “for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy”, according to the Nobel Peace Prize announcement.
President Trump can simply say that he was making the Nobel Committee’s wishes come true.
-PJ
The above from here:
https://freerepublic.com/focus/news/4360162/posts?page=17#17
Heck, I hope he liberates California and Minnesota.
I think Trump must’ve had Hegseth order that the airport was not to be destroyed or made inoperable.
Is is true that Congress has not formally approved, in any meaningful alternative way (except belatedly through the appropriations process) many military strikes?
Can u provide a full list of military strikes w/out presidents obtaining congressional approval for?
Since World War II, U.S. presidents have frequently ordered military strikes without obtaining formal congressional approval or declarations of war. Here is a list of notable instances where presidents authorized military actions without prior congressional consent, based on historical precedent and legal interpretations:
Civil War (1863)
President Abraham Lincoln imposed a naval blockade of Confederate ports without a Congressional declaration of war, later upheld by the Supreme Court.robertcliftonrobinson
Korean War (1950-1953)
President Harry Truman committed U.S. forces under United Nations auspices without congressional declaration.robertcliftonrobinson
Vietnam War (1960s-1970s)
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (1964) gave broad military authority without a formal war declaration. Presidents Johnson and Nixon expanded military actions, including secret bombings in Cambodia.wikipedia+1
Invasion of Grenada (1983)
President Ronald Reagan ordered the invasion without explicit congressional authorization.fcnl
Invasion of Panama (1989)
President George H.W. Bush launched military intervention without Congress's prior approval; debated in terms of War Powers compliance.fcnl
Kosovo Air Campaign (1998-1999)
President Bill Clinton ordered airstrikes on Yugoslavia without Congressional authorization.fcnl
Afghanistan War (2001-present)
Authorized under the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), not a formal declaration of war.fcnl
Iraq War (2003)
Authorization by Congress via the 2002 AUMF, but no formal declaration of war.fcnl
Libya Airstrikes (2011)
President Barack Obama authorized airstrikes in Libya without Congress’s approval.constitutioncenter
Syria Missile Strikes (2017, 2018)
President Donald Trump ordered missile strikes against Syrian targets without congressional approval.robertcliftonrobinson
Soleimani Drone Strike (2020)
President Trump ordered the assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani without explicit Congressional authorization, citing self-defense.robertcliftonrobinson
Iran Nuclear Facility Strikes (2025)
President Trump ordered strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, announcing limited strikes without prior Congressional approval.robertcliftonrobinson
| Year | Operation / Conflict | President | Congressional Approval | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1863 | Naval blockade (Civil War) | Abraham Lincoln | No | Supreme Court upheld blockade |
| 1950–1953 | Korean War | Harry Truman | No | UN mandate, no declaration |
| 1964–1973 | Vietnam War | Johnson, Nixon | No | Gulf of Tonkin Resolution |
| 1983 | Grenada invasion | Ronald Reagan | No | Controversial use of war powers |
| 1989 | Panama invasion | George H.W. Bush | No | Legal debates on War Powers compliance |
| 1998–1999 | Kosovo air campaign | Bill Clinton | No | Airstrikes without authorization |
| 2001–present | Afghanistan War | George W. Bush, etc. | Authorization Only | Based on 2001 AUMF |
| 2003 | Iraq War | George W. Bush | Authorization Only | Not a formal war declaration |
| 2011 | Libya airstrikes | Barack Obama | No | Post-hoc notification |
| 2017, 2018 | Syrian missile strikes | Donald Trump | No | Limited strikes |
| 2020 | Soleimani drone strike | Donald Trump | No | Self-defense claim |
| 2025 | Iran nuclear sites strike | Donald Trump | No | Limited strikes |
The War Powers Resolution (1973) was enacted to restrict presidents’ ability to conduct military operations without congressional approval. It requires notification within 48 hours and limits combat without authorization to 60 days plus withdrawal window. However, presidents often challenge its constitutionality and continue to order strikes without prior approval.wikipedia+1
Since 1973, over 168 military operations have been reported under the War Powers Resolution, often without formal declaration or explicit congressional consent.nolabels
Presidents justify these actions based on their constitutional role as commander-in-chief and legal opinions supporting limited military action for self-defense or to protect national interests.constitutioncenter+1
Final Summary:
U.S. presidents have a long history of authorizing military strikes and actions without congressional approval. Although Congress retains the constitutional power to declare war, presidents frequently act unilaterally, particularly for limited or urgent military engagements, often triggering post-action notifications under the War Powers Resolution but bypassing formal congressional declarations.nolabels+4
If DJT has decent evidence of Venezuela tampering with our elections (especially 2020) and the resulting destruction of our southern border, with Venezuela participating in the invasion, then “Bombs away!” This is retaliation for an attack with existential consequences.
Caesar has acted and no one will stop him. Some freepers will cheer because they’ve joined the cult of personality, think Trump can do no wrong, and approve of the current target of opportunity.
They are forgetting that military operations can go wrong, and then a quick surgical strike becomes an escalating commitment. Some buy-in by Congress and the public is important.
They are also forgetting that the other side wins elections too, and Caesar will be (D)ifferent.
I thought we were the party that still at least pretended to take the rule of law, the constitution, and checks and balances seriously.
I asked BRAVE browser’s AI this question: “Did President Bush notify congress before operation just cause in Panama?” and got this answer:
“President George H. W. Bush did notify Congress after launching Operation Just Cause, but not before the invasion began. The War Powers Resolution requires the President to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing armed forces to military action. The United States invasion of Panama, codenamed Operation Just Cause, began on December 20, 1989, and the administration fulfilled the notification requirement by informing Congress shortly afterward. However, critics argue that the President failed to consult with Congress prior to the invasion, which some view as a violation of the spirit, if not the letter, of the War Powers Resolution”
Leftists whined THEN too.
imagine what would happen if we could do this with North Korea. That would significantly weaken China. After that, we could even think about Iran. I like where this is headed. Because China, without Iran and North Korea, I don’t know, maybe they wouldn’t be as uppity.
Rightfully so. Had he notified Congress, there is no doubt in my mind that any number of Democrats would have been on the phone to Maduro, allowing him to go into hiding.
HOORAY President Trump!
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