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 ...
we didn’t attack VZ- we went in for and got Maduro.big
difference.
As evidenced by the fact that the raid went off without opposition and deaths of the raiders.
To tell congress - he might as well have called Maduro direct.
MM, all I can say is……..I love you.
…
/\/\/\/\!!!!!
This is how Trump should handle the immigration problem. Deport them overnight and let them fight to get back. Create facts on the ground. Instead he goes person by person through the courts.
This tracks Noriega and Panama except indicted Noreiga was a coke crazed narco fugitive who won his election who was arrested pursuant to his indictment while Maduro was an evil narco who lost his election and this operation to arrest him pursuant to the indictment was 2 hours while Panama was days. Congress does not get a say in actions to arrest fugitive foreigners pursuant to an indictment.
>> I hear some senators are livid
You sure that’s not just the voices in your liptard pea-brain?
If he had told congress, they would have told Maduro and he would not have been captured.
Left out Reagan striking Libyia. Unless I missed it.
>> “AS?” What is the source?
I wondered that too. I visited the site, mulled it over a bit, and I’m convinced that it’s some libtard site run on a shoestring... couldn’t even afford that second “S”. :-)
My concern with having Maduro soak up coverage here would be the opportunity for the media to drumbeat accusations against Trump while the government engages in one of its endless investigations and tortuous judicial nitpicking.
To me, a ""NeverTrumper" is someone who oppose anything Trump does simply because it it Trump doing it. But if you're just consistent in applying to Trump values and principles you held before Trump, that's a different story.
There is also the flip side of people who support everything Trump says and does just because it is Trump doing it. Regardless of whether it is consistent with their values and principles or not. I don't think those folks are any better than the NeverTrumpers.
>> I suspect the weasel that is rand paul is searching for a microphone and camera as we speak
Public Service Announcement: CAREFUL, y’all, PLEASE don’t endanger yourselves by getting between Rand and camera!!!
That's what gag orders are for.
-PJ
MachIV wrote: “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.”
Of course notifying Congress would have meant this operation had no chance of success since notifying Congress would be the same thing as notifying Maduro.
FWIW, Rand Paul is as bad as his father. I have no idea why some find the Paul’s so attractive.
I guess I don’t understand why they took him to a judge in New York . Why not gitmo?
You and Rand Fan should get a room and do butt stuff.
The indictment dates all the way back to 2020.
It included btw a $50,000 reward to anyone who captured Maduro and turned him over to US law enforcement.
Maybe the Special Forces folks get to split the reward.
Lol.
And it’s not just drugs. Venezuelan gang members raping, killing American citizens. And who can forget that there’s a connection between Venezuela and Dominion, the voting machines that create votes out of thin air.
It has when we want it to.
This was not an attack on Venezuela. The USA has long held that Nicolas Maduro was not the legitimate head of State in Venezuela. He is a criminal against both that country and the United States. I am certain there will be elections with which to establish a legitimate head of State there.
I think your complaint is misplaced.
Worse than that, Maduro directly interfered in US elections in 2020 to help set up what was effectively an illegitimate government HERE. If that is not an act of war, I don't know what is.
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