Trump blasts GOP war powers defectors, says they 'should never be elected to office again'

Politics

Trump blasts GOP war powers defectors, says they 'should never be elected to office again'

'This vote greatly hampers American self-defense and national security,' says President Trump

Alex Miller Fox News

Published

January 8, 2026 1:21pm EST

Video

Senate advances war powers resolution to limit Trump’s military action in Venezuela

Fox News White House correspondent Aishah Hasnie reports after the Senate advanced a war powers resolution on Venezuela as President Donald Trump outlines a long-term U.S. role and an oil strategy.

NEW

You can now listen to Fox News articles!

President Donald Trump unleashed his fury on a handful of Senate Republicans who rebelled against him on Thursday, demanding that they never be re-elected.

Five Senate Republicans broke ranks to support a bipartisan war powers resolution from Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., geared toward reining in Trump’s ability to pursue further military action in Venezuela.

It served as a rare rebuke from Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Todd Young, R-Ind., Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Rand Paul, R-Ky., in a Republican-controlled Senate that has largely accepted and advanced many of Trump’s legislative desires.

TRUMP EMBRACES US INTERVENTION IN VENEZUELA, OPENS DOOR TO BROADER LATIN AMERICA PUSH

U.S. President Donald Trump in the oval office

President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House on Dec. 15, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Trump was not happy about it.

"Republicans should be ashamed of the Senators that just voted with Democrats in attempting to take away our Powers to fight and defend the United States of America," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

"Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Rand Paul, Josh Hawley, and Todd Young should never be elected to office again," he continued. "This Vote greatly hampers American Self Defense and National Security, impeding the President’s Authority as Commander in Chief."

KENNEDY SAYS MILITARY ACTION ON GREENLAND WOULD BE 'WEAPONS-GRADE STUPID' AS GOP RESISTS FORCE

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, addresses the press at Washington Crossing Inn on Nov. 6, 2022, in Washington Crossing, Pa. (Mark Makela/Getty Images)

Collins, in particular, faces a tough re-election challenge in Maine, where Senate Democrats got their prized candidate, Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, to jump into the race late last year.

The Republicans that voted for the resolution argued that while they supported Operation Absolute Resolve, the codename of the mission carried out to capture former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, they wanted Congress to have a say should any further military action take place.

WHITE HOUSE SAYS 'RANGE OF OPTIONS,' INCLUDING US MILITARY, ON TABLE AS TRUMP RENEWS PUSH TO ACQUIRE GREENLAND

Rand Paul surrounded by reporters in May 2025

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., talks with reporters in the U.S. Capitol after the House passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in Washington, May 22, 2025. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc.)

That decision came in part after lawmakers received briefings throughout the week from top administration officials to explain what the next steps in the country would be.

"With Maduro rightfully captured, the circumstances have now changed," Collins said in a statement ahead of the vote. "While I support the operation to seize Nicolás Maduro, which was extraordinary in its precision and complexity, I do not support committing additional U.S. forces or entering into any long-term military involvement in Venezuela or Greenland without specific congressional authorization."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Trump rejected Congress’ war powers authority, calling the War Powers Act "unconstitutional, totally violating Article II of the Constitution, as all Presidents, and their Departments of Justice, have determined before me."

"Nevertheless, a more important Senate Vote will be taking place next week on this very subject," he said.

Alex Miller is a writer for Fox News Digital covering the U.S. Senate.

Trump blasts GOP war powers defectors, says they 'should never be elected to office again'