GOP Lawmaker Says Rubio Assured That Trump Won't Take Unauthorized Military Action in Venezuela

The United States' military campaign in South American waters has now claimed the lives of more than 100 people in a series of airstrikes that began in early September. The latest attack, on Dec. 18, brought the death toll to 104.

As tensions between Washington and Caracas continue to rise, lawmakers on Capitol Hill remain divided over the Trump administration's military campaign in the region. Democrats are pushing for a diplomatic solution, while Republicans have been outspoken in their support of the airstrikes.

While GOP lawmakers have voiced support for more strikes, Trump's actions remain bound by constitutional limits, as noted by a member of Congress.

Rep. Warren Davidson, a Republican representing Ohio's 8th congressional district, told CNN that Secretary of State Marco Rubio privately assured Republican members of the House this week that Trump "will comply with the War Powers Resolution," meaning he will not launch unauthorized strikes on Venezuela.

"President Trump would like to do far more in Venezuela. I think every president gets frustrated with legislature, but that's the Constitution," Davidson said.

According to sources speaking to The Washington Post, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Rubio held a classified briefing with select members of Congress, indicating that the administration is not currently planning to target Venezuela directly and does not have a proper legal argument to do so.

The briefing took place a day before votes on two Democrat-led proposals aimed at halting attacks on suspected drug boats and military actions near Venezuela.

As reported by The Hill, the first resolution, introduced by House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), would have ended the boat strikes by directing the president to stop "hostilities with any presidentially designated terrorist organization in the Western Hemisphere" unless Congress authorized them.

The second resolution, led by House Rules Committee ranking member Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), would have required the president to "remove the use of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Venezuela" unless Congress approved them.

Under the Constitution, only Congress can officially declare war, and the 1973 War Powers Resolution requires the president to get congressional approval before sending U.S. forces into combat or situations where hostilities are imminent.

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles acknowledged in a Tuesday interview that any "activity on land" in Venezuela would require Congress's consent. However, the Trump administration has argued that the strikes on drug boats do not need congressional authorization, since most of the attacks are carried out by drones operating well away from U.S. naval forces

Trump again discussed the possibility on Friday. Asked if he would seek authorization from Congress for any land attacks on cartels in the country, he said: "I wouldn't mind telling them. I don't have to tell them, it's been proven. But I wouldn't mind at all, I just hope they wouldn't leak it. They're politicians."