Indiana Senator Todd Young took to the Senate floor Thursday to explain why he abandoned a bipartisan war powers resolution on Venezuela just 24 hours after helping advance it, a reversal that handed the Trump administration a major victory and stunned Capitol Hill watchers.
The measure died 50-50 Wednesday night after Young and Missouri Senator Josh Hawley switched their votes, allowing Vice President JD Vance to cast the tie-breaking vote against it.
The resolution, sponsored by Democratic Senator Tim Kaine and backed last week by five Republicans including Young, would have forced President Trump to seek congressional approval before any further military action in Venezuela.
What Changed in 24 Hours
Young told colleagues he received direct assurances from the White House late Tuesday and Wednesday morning that no U.S. troops remain in Venezuela and that the administration has no plans to escalate militarily against the Maduro regime.
He stressed the commitments go beyond what the Constitution requires.
“These are major commitments that will keep Congress better informed and ensure any future use of force is subject to public debate and authorization in this body,” Young said from the Senate floor.
The Indiana Republican also revealed the House Republican leadership had already signaled they would kill the resolution if it reached the lower chamber, making Senate passage symbolically powerful but ultimately meaningless.
The Political Pressure Was Real
Multiple sources confirm intense White House outreach to both Young and Hawley in the final 48 hours.
National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio personally called the senators, according to three people familiar with the conversations.
Hawley, who has positioned himself as a foreign policy restrainer, faced particular pressure from Trump allies who reminded him of his 2024 campaign promises to avoid new wars.
Young’s office declined to comment on specific calls but did not dispute they occurred.
No Boots on the Ground, Administration Insists
Defense Department officials reiterated Thursday there are currently zero U.S. military personnel operating inside Venezuela.
The last known U.S. special operators left the country in late 2025 after a brief advisory mission with regional partners, Pentagon spokespeople confirmed.
The Trump administration continues to recognize Edmundo González as Venezuela’s legitimate president and maintains maximum economic pressure on Nicolás Maduro.
Oil sanctions were tightened again last month after Maduro’s forces cracked down on opposition leaders following the disputed 2024 election.
Bipartisan Fury on the Hill
Democratic leaders expressed outrage at the Republican reversals.
“This is exactly why we need war powers reform,” Senator Kaine told reporters Thursday. “The administration leaned on two senators and they folded in less than a day.”
Even some Republicans privately expressed discomfort.
One GOP senator, speaking on condition of anonymity, called Young’s floor speech “the most eloquent explanation for caving that I’ve ever heard.”
What Happens Next
The failed vote means President Trump retains full authority to order military action in Venezuela without congressional approval, though administration officials continue to stress diplomacy remains the primary tool.
Young concluded his remarks by urging colleagues to trust the commitments he secured, saying the outcome strengthens congressional oversight rather than weakens it.
Whether that argument persuades skeptical lawmakers remains to be seen, especially as Venezuela’s crisis shows no signs of easing and Maduro’s grip on power appears stronger than ever.
The episode serves as an early test of Republican unity in the new Trump administration and raises fresh questions about Congress’s ability to check presidential war powers in the 21st century.
What do you think? Was Senator Young right to trust White House assurances, or should he have stood firm with the bipartisan coalition? Sound off in the comments below.
