A growing number of Republicans are publicly challenging President Donald Trump’s expanding campaign against alleged drug-trafficking cartel boats in the Caribbean and Pacific.
The majority of Republicans in have demonstrated minimal opposition to Trump during his second term, even as he pushed the boundaries of . Nevertheless, indications of disagreement have surfaced concerning the military campaign initiated in early September without congressional authorization, which now risks expanding into land strikes against .
Senator Mike Rounds (R), a member of the Armed Services Committee, demanded increased oversight of the strikes in a Wednesday interview with the .
“We bear oversight responsibilities, and we anticipate our questions being addressed,” he stated.
North Carolina Republican Senator Thom Tillis likewise called for discussions on approving the use of military force. He informed the Times that “extreme caution is necessary when considering ordering a kinetic strike.”
Maine Senator Susan Collins also informed the Times that valid questions exist regarding the legality of Trump’s strikes without congressional authority. Collins expressed a desire for the Senate to “pass a resolution that either authorizes his force or prevents its use,” though these comments follow that would have stopped Trump from continuing his assault on unmarked vessels.
Senator James Lankford (R-Oklahoma) stated on C-SPAN that the White House “must provide clarity” to Congress regarding the military operations.
“If this degree of insight were occurring under the Biden administration, I would be apoplectic,” Lankford .
Kentucky’s libertarian Republican Senator Rand Paul has become a steady critic of the campaign. This weekend, Paul went as far as to join international experts in , which the Trump Administration states has resulted in 43 fatalities, “extrajudicial killings.”
On “Fox News Sunday,” he remarked, “Their names were not disclosed, no evidence was provided, it wasn’t stated whether they were armed, and no proof has been presented.”
He further asserted, “The Constitution mandates a congressional vote for war,” highlighting that the “drug war” has historically fallen under domestic law enforcement jurisdiction.
He concluded, “Therefore, I would currently label these as extrajudicial killings, comparable to actions taken by China and Iran concerning drug dealers.”
Paul and Senator Lisa Murkowski were the sole Republicans who joined Democrats in an attempt to halt the bombing campaign without congressional consent. A resolution to forbid attacks “within or against” Venezuela without explicit congressional authorization was reintroduced this month—this time as a bipartisan initiative.
The campaign has attracted criticism from experts worried about the extension of executive authority and violations of both national and international law. Paul’s comments follow the Trump Administration’s confirmation of its tenth strike on suspected drug-trafficking vessels, and even though Trump has in Venezuela, he has escalated threats against the country’s president, Nicolás Maduro, with a substantial naval buildup off Venezuela’s coast.
Only this past weekend, the Pentagon deployed the world’s largest aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. Gerald Ford, to the region, and a U.S. Navy destroyer arrived in Trinidad and Tobago, outfitted with guided missiles, Marines, and advanced weapons systems. These actions provoked outrage from Maduro, who was re-elected last year in what independent experts termed a fraudulent election, and who stated that the U.S. is attempting to .
Nevertheless, the majority of Republicans have maintained their allegiance to Trump.
Over the weekend, Senator Lindsey Graham informed CBS News’ Face the Nation that land strikes in Venezuela constitute a “real possibility,” and that Trump has determined it is time for Maduro to “depart.” While Trump previously stated he required no congressional authorization for his anti-cartel offensive, he has since indicated his Administration would “likely consult Congress and detail our actions” prior to initiating land strikes. He maintained, however, that his Administration would still not require congressional authority or approval.