President Trump blasted the five Republican senators who voted Thursday to advance a war powers resolution that would prevent him from taking further military action against Venezuela without congressional approval.
GOP Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, Josh Hawley of Missouri and Todd Young of Indiana “should never be elected to office again,” Mr. Trump said on social media.
The president’s post noted the “more important” Senate vote on the measure will occur next week but nonetheless argued Thursday’s procedural vote “greatly hampers” national security and his authority as commander in chief.
“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,” he said.
Mr. Trump said despite the five GOP senators’ “stupidity,” he believes the War Powers Act violates Article II of the Constitution.
The Senate will first hold another procedural vote on the war powers measure next week, followed by up to 10 hours of debate and an opportunity for senators to offer amendments before final passage.
SEE ALSO: Senate advances war powers measure to rein in Trump’s military actions in Venezuela
Ms. Collins is the only one of the five Republicans who voted to advance the war powers resolution who is up for reelection this year, though Mr. Trump’s opposition likely won’t hurt much in Maine.
She told reporters that she guesses the president’s desire for her not to be reelected means he would rather have Maine Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat who is running for the Senate seat.
Ms. Mills, a leading contender in the crowded Democratic primary, said Ms. Collins’ vote was “a day late and a dollar short” after she opposed a similar war powers resolution in November, giving Trump “the greenlight to unilaterally move us towards war in Venezuela.”
“My problem with Susan Collins is that she never does the right or hard thing the first time when it’s needed most — only when it serves her politically — and we always pay the price,” Ms. Mills said.
Sen. Bernie Moreno, Ohio Republican, said he does not blame Mr. Trump for being upset over the vote, which he called a “slap in the face and a poke in the eye” given that the war powers resolution likely will not pass the House. Even if it did, the president would certainly veto it.
“I wish Susan hadn’t voted that way, but she has to vote her heart,” Mr. Moreno said. “Do I agree that she shouldn’t be reelected? No, I think she’s very, very good for Maine. If Susan isn’t the senator from Maine, we’re going to end up with a Democrat. That would be 10 times worse.”
The other four Republicans who are not up for reelection this cycle were not rattled by Mr. Trump’s threat.
“I don’t take any offense to that,” Mr. Hawley said. “I think the president’s great. I love the president.”
Mr. Hawley said that the war powers resolution simply asks senators whether they believe Congress needs to weigh in if the U.S. wants to engage in future hostilities against Venezuela, which he views as troops on the ground.
“It’s really not even a war powers question. I think it’s an Article One question,” he said. “I just think we’d have to vote on it. And maybe we’d vote yes, but I think we have to vote.”
