GOP blocks bid to curb Trump’s strikes on “drug boats”

GOP blocks bid to curb Trump’s strikes on “drug boats”

 

Republican senators have defeated a Democratic-led effort to halt President Donald Trump’s military strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats off Venezuela’s coast, dealing a blow to lawmakers seeking tighter congressional oversight of the president’s war powers. 

 

The resolution — introduced by Sens. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) — failed in a narrow 48–51 vote on Wednesday. It would have restricted U.S. forces from targeting vessels the Trump administration says are ferrying fentanyl and other narcotics into the United States.

 

Schiff urged senators to “affirm Congress’s constitutional authority” over declarations of war, insisting the measure would not limit U.S. operations against terrorist groups already covered by existing authorizations.

 

Since early September, U.S. forces have carried out four strikes on boats in the Caribbean Sea, killing at least 21 people, according to administration figures. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the latest attack destroyed a vessel carrying narcotics in international waters, killing four on board.

 

However, Colombian President Gustavo Petro said the most recent target was actually a Colombian vessel with Colombian citizens aboard, demanding clarification from Washington.

 

Republicans defended Trump’s actions. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) said the operations were “lawfully sound and extremely limited,” falling short of the 60-day threshold under the War Powers Resolution. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also slammed the resolution, calling it “unconstitutional” and warning it would endanger Americans.

 

Only two Republicans — Rand Paul (Ky.) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) — joined Democrats in backing the measure, while Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) broke ranks to oppose it.

 

Paul wrote on X: “The U.S. should not be blowing up boats without even knowing who’s on them. There’s no due process in that — no evidence, no oversight.”

 

Key Takeaways:

• Senate votes 51–48 to let Trump’s anti-drug strikes continue.

• Democrats sought to reassert congressional war powers.

• Colombia protests after claiming a struck vessel was its own.

 

Source: The Hill