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Did Trump get authority from Congress to attack Venezuela?
AS ^ | Jan 3 | AS

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 ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Conspiracy
KEYWORDS: 444days; 5thcolumnonfr; 5thcolumonfr; antiamericanrandfan; articleii; dukeywordtroll; fidelcastrofan; frtraitorslist; iran; irandronesfactory; islam1st; jimmycarter; luckfibertarians; madurofan; makewargreatagain; mamdanisfriends; manuro; marcorubio; mikelee; multiplenicks; narcoterrorism; neocommies4maduro; neoconsarebackbaby; neoconsunite; nevertrumpkywrdtroll; randfan; randfandesparation; randfanfaggot; randfanspam; randpaulsucks; randspam; randstanding; ronaldreagan; sphinxhatestrump; tds; tdskeywordtroll; trendearagua; troll; utah; venezuela; vladimirpadrinolopez; wagthedog; waronterror; whyishestillhere; zot; zotthispunk
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To: Lib-Lickers 2

I wonder if the five Americans being held captive were to be liberated in the process.


41 posted on 01/03/2026 4:47:28 AM PST by gundog (The ends justify the mean tweets. )
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To: sphinx
I thought we were the party that still at least pretended to take the rule of law, the constitution, and checks and balances seriously.

Monroe Doctrine.

42 posted on 01/03/2026 4:48:11 AM PST by no-to-illegals (The enemy has US surrounded. May God have mercy on them.)
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To: RandFan
I don't think President Trump needs Congressional approval. There was already an indictment of Maduro filed in federal court.

United States Attorney's Office - Southern District of New York (March 26, 2020): Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Narco-Terrorism Charges Against Nicolas Maduro, Current And Former Venezuelan Officials, And Farc Leadership

President Trump was executing an arrest warrant.

-PJ

43 posted on 01/03/2026 4:48:41 AM PST by Political Junkie Too ( * LAAP = Left-wing Activist Agitprop Press (formerly known as the MSM))
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To: sphinx

You’re an idiot.


44 posted on 01/03/2026 4:49:31 AM PST by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn... )
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To: Vermont Lt; All

Isn’t the Monroe Doctrine still in force?


45 posted on 01/03/2026 4:49:41 AM PST by SMARTY (In politics, stupidity is not a handicap. Napoleon Bonaparte I)
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To: RandFan

Do a few bong hits and settle down Lib.


46 posted on 01/03/2026 4:50:26 AM PST by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn... )
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To: daniel1212

Thanks for posting that. I knew I’d seen that info before and hoped someone would post it here.

Now maybe the media needs to be informed. I’m sure most know the truth; they just ignore it.


47 posted on 01/03/2026 4:51:15 AM PST by MayflowerMadam ( "Trouble knocked at the door, but, hearing laughter, hurried away". - B. Franklin)
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To: RandFan

Nobody had an issue topping Bin Laden. Feels like a bunch of US legislators may have lost their side gigs this AM.


48 posted on 01/03/2026 4:52:43 AM PST by RinaseaofDs (Imagine what we'll know tomorrow.)
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To: RandFan
this is a crazy action

Calm down.

49 posted on 01/03/2026 4:53:29 AM PST by Lazamataz (The quickest and easiest way to untold riches is to be elected to national office.)
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To: daniel1212

Thank you for a most informative post.


50 posted on 01/03/2026 4:53:41 AM PST by Churchillspirit (Pray for President Trump)
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To: teeman8r

Agreed, congress will squeal meanwhile they continue to not do their constitutional duties like passing a budget.
Impeach impeach impeach😎


51 posted on 01/03/2026 4:55:07 AM PST by blitz128
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To: DugwayDuke

I’m sure he is pissed because Trump likely did not go to congress even though the U.S. Congress itself is the gravest threat facing the American people.

I can hardly wait to vote out his stupid open border pro-dope butt.


52 posted on 01/03/2026 4:56:40 AM PST by MachIV
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To: Sirius Lee

Yes.

The pearl clutchers focus on the War Powers Act but conveniently ignore this...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authorization_for_Use_of_Military_Force_of_2001

Excerpt...

The 2001 AUMF has enabled the US president to unilaterally launch military operations across the world without any congressional oversight or transparency for more than two decades. Between 2018 and 2020 alone, US forces initiated what it labelled “counter-terror” activities in 85 countries. Of these, the 2001 AUMF has been used to launch classified military campaigns in at least 22 countries.


53 posted on 01/03/2026 4:58:54 AM PST by HombreSecreto (The life of a repo man is always intense)
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To: RandFan

No congressional authorization was required. It was a singular military strike, like the thousands conducted by Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush the lesser, Obambi, Trump and Biden.

It was not an declaration of war.

It was a decisive extraction.

It’s 100% legal, Senators be damned.


54 posted on 01/03/2026 4:59:37 AM PST by spacewarp (Want freedom? Reject Dems.)
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To: MarlonRando
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.

Obviously, the reason the US has not done this with North Korea is bcz of China. Without which there would likely not be a N.K. in 1953. And the US would lose any prolonged war with China. But as the latter depends upon trade with the West, and is exponentially advancing faster than the West, and sees it becoming weaker, then wisdom dictates patience.

All of which decay of the West is a result of it overall engaging in an unwinnable war against God, who can use the wicked as His sword of chastisement against those who are the more accountable, (Psalms 17:13) though the wicked will also receive their due.

55 posted on 01/03/2026 5:00:23 AM PST by daniel1212 (Turn 2 the Lord Jesus who saves damned+destitute sinners on His acct, believe, b baptized+follow HIM)
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To: Sirius Lee

My thoughts are, I voted for this.
Hopefully Trump will send in Delta Force to capture the ayatollah and Mamdani to bring them to justice as well.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>...
My thoughts exactly. President Trump is doing everything he judges necessary to give notice to all bad actors who threaten America that while he’s in charge they’re making a dangerous mistake. God bless and protect our President!


56 posted on 01/03/2026 5:07:27 AM PST by fortes fortuna juvat (TDS: Triggered in 2016 when the MAGA King killed the Queen of the Lunatic Left.)
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To: sphinx

“Some freepers will cheer because they’ve joined the cult of personality,”

And some FReepers will cheer because they hate what drugs are doing to our country.

“They are forgetting that military operations can go wrong”

Really? Two words for you: “Afghanistan” “withdrawal”.

“They are also forgetting that the other side wins elections too,”

Uh ... Yeah ... That already happened. Do you think we’ve forgotten the dictatorship of 2021-2025?

You’re a whining little cretin. Maybe you can look in your medicine cabinet and find some ButtHurt Salve.


57 posted on 01/03/2026 5:08:39 AM PST by MayflowerMadam ( "Trouble knocked at the door, but, hearing laughter, hurried away". - B. Franklin)
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To: RandFan

“Clear and present danger...”


58 posted on 01/03/2026 5:09:07 AM PST by Bloody Sam Roberts (Perfection is impossible. But if you pursue perfection you may achieve excellence - - Vince Lombardi)
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To: TTFlyer

Eff Congress. Especially the Senate.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
It would take a nuclear strike on D.C. to get those gutless SOBs to do anything in defense of America!


59 posted on 01/03/2026 5:11:02 AM PST by fortes fortuna juvat (TDS: Triggered in 2016 when the MAGA King killed the Queen of the Lunatic Left.)
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To: sphinx

“Caesar has acted “

I agree with you. This is not what I voted for.

They all tell you one thing when campaigning and do another when elected.


60 posted on 01/03/2026 5:11:29 AM PST by xenia (In a Time of Universal Deceit — Telling the Truth Is a Revolutionary Act - George Orwell)
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