Senators Say They’ll Keep Pushing to Prevent War With Venezuela Without Congressional Approval

The Trump administration reportedly told Congress it doesn’t need approval for boat strikes.

Sen. Rand Paul

Tom Williams/AP

Sens. Rand Paul and Tim Kaine said Monday they will keep pushing to limit President Donald Trump’s ability to act without congressional approval on Venezuela and cartels, although there’s little appetite among Senate Republicans to check the president on land strikes.

“We don’t go to war without permission of Congress,” Paul said. “Even the Iraq War, which I objected to, Bush came to Congress and asked permission to go to war. If they want to attack another country, they need to come and explain why, and then there needs to be a vote.”

Trump said in a “60 Minutes” interview aired Sunday that he doubts the United States will go to war with Venezuela but refused to rule out land strikes.