Senators react after Senate advances resolution to limit Trump's ability to attack Venezuela

(8 Jan 2026)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
 
++BEGINS AND ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++
 
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Washington – 8 January 2026
1. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Eric Schmitt, (R) Missouri:
“Look, this was an incredible achievement for our military to support this law enforcement action. An illegitimate communist dictator who poisoned Americans, sent criminals, emptied out his prisons and was playing host to China, Russia and Iran in our backyard is now gone I would hope that as Americans we can celebrate that maybe for a day or for a week.”
++WHITE FLASH++
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina:
“What is Trump doing? We don't have troops on the ground now, but he's telling the people who come in after Maduro, if I need to, everything's on the table. If you screw with me, you're gonna wind up like Maduro. We want a transition so we can have a free and fair election, and regime change in Venezuela comes through the ballot box. So, I'm not going to take any options off the table for the president."
++WHITE FLASH++
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Jon Husted, (R) Ohio:
“I think that the rhetoric around in Greenland it's probably been the issue that's driven this the most because I think everybody's really excited about how well things have gone in Venezuela but they don't like the idea that perhaps things could go differently as it relates to Greenland and I think you're starting to see people speak up and say hey. Because I can tell you I've spoken with the Prime Minister of Denmark and officials from Greenland they are more willing to work with America on our strategic interests in the Arctic and that's what we should do.”
++ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++
STORYLINE:
The Senate has advanced a resolution that would limit President Donald Trump’s ability to conduct further attacks against Venezuela.
 
The vote Thursday was a disapproval of Trump's expanding ambitions in the Western Hemisphere.
 
The 52-47 vote to advance the war powers resolution ensures a vote next week on final passage.
 
Republican Senators on Capitol Hill weighed in on the administration’s recent move in Venezuela.
 
Sen. Eric Schmitt, (R) Missouri, says he wants stability.
 
“Because there's a continuity of government right now, the Venezuelans are going to have some options. They're going to their own opportunity to change their own government, and that's a good thing,” Schmitt said.
 
Meanwhile, Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina, said he was not willing to take any options off the table for President Trump.
 
“We want a transition so we can have a free and fair election, and regime change in Venezuela comes through the ballot box. So, I'm not going to take any options off the table for the president. If he needs to sell Venezuelan oil to create an account to run the country because they're about out of money, fine,” Graham said.
 
The measure has virtually no chance of becoming law because Trump would have to sign it if it were to pass the Republican-controlled House.
 
But it was a significant gesture that showed unease among some Republicans after the U.S. military seized Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in a surprise nighttime raid. House Democrats are introducing a similar resolution
 
AP Video by Rick Gentilo

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