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WASHINGTON — The Republican-controlled U.S. Senate voted largely along party lines Tuesday to reject a Democratic-backed resolution that would have barred President Donald Trump from taking military action against Cuba without congressional approval .
The chamber voted 51–47 on a procedural maneuver — a point of order raised by Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) — effectively killing the War Powers resolution introduced by Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) . The resolution sought to block the president from launching hostilities against Cuba unless first authorized by Congress.
The vote highlighted the deep partisan divide over the scope of presidential war powers, as Republicans continue to back Trump’s aggressive unilateral posture in multiple global theaters, including Iran and Venezuela .
The Vote: A Party-Line Rejection
The Republican maneuver to dismiss the resolution succeeded 51–47. GOP Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Rand Paul (Ky.) were the only Republicans who voted to support the resolution, while Sen. John Fetterman (Pa.) was the only Democrat to side with Republicans in striking it down .
Republicans argued the vote was procedurally out of order because the United States is not engaged in outright hostilities with Cuba . Scott, whose state is geographically the closest to Cuba and contains a large Cuban-American population, said on the Senate floor that the resolution was “completely out of touch with the facts.”
“This president has never said he wants to put boots on the ground. This is a complete waste of our time, and it’s a complete insult to Cubans in Cuba and Cubans in my state,” Scott said, emphasizing that Trump has not suggested troop deployments .
Democrats: A ‘Humanitarian Crisis’ and a President ‘Out of Control’
Democrats countered that the Trump administration is already waging de facto hostilities through a naval blockade and energy embargo, which they argued has created a humanitarian catastrophe on the island .
Kaine argued that the U.S. is already using military force — primarily the Coast Guard — to enforce a crippling economic siege on Cuba.
“My argument is that under the terms of the resolution we are already engaged in hostilities with Cuba because we are using American force, primarily the Coast Guard, but other assets as well, to engage in a very devastating economic blockade of the nation,” Kaine said .
Democrats noted the blockade has led to severe water and power outages, disrupted medical care, and spiked food prices across the island . Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) told USA Today that the administration’s strategy in Cuba appears to be “to crush them into dust” .
Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) expressed concern that the administration’s actions — including military strikes on boats off Venezuela and the invasion of Caracas to seize President Nicolas Maduro — have set a dangerous precedent for Cuba .
The Broader Context: A Pattern of Unilateral Action
Tuesday’s failed resolution is the latest in a series of Democratic attempts to rein in Trump’s use of force without congressional approval. Earlier War Powers resolutions related to the conflicts in Iran and Venezuela also failed .
Trump has publicly signaled that “Cuba is next” after his administration concluded major military operations in Venezuela and Iran . At a Turning Point USA event last week, Trump pledged what he called “a new dawn for Cuba” .
The White House continues to insist that Trump’s actions fall within his authority and duty as commander-in-chief to defend the United States and does not require congressional authorization for what it describes as short-term operations or responses to immediate threats .
- Republicans’ Argument: No troops are on the ground; therefore, the resolution is moot .
- Democrats’ Argument: The naval blockade and economic warfare already constitute acts of war; a preemptive check is needed .
What’s Next
With the Senate having blocked the resolution, President Trump retains wide latitude to escalate pressure on Havana without seeking congressional input.
The administration is pressing Cuba’s leadership to end political repression, release political prisoners and liberalize its ailing economy . Cuba has so far rejected U.S. demands, and Trump has warned of unspecified consequences .
Key Takeaways
| Aspect | Summary |
|---|---|
| The Vote | Senate voted 51–47 to block the resolution (procedural motion by Sen. Rick Scott) |
| Defections | GOP Sens. Collins, Paul voted for the resolution; Dem Sen. Fetterman voted against |
| Republican Justification | No active hostilities; president has not deployed ground troops; resolution is moot |
| Democratic Justification | Naval blockade is already an act of war; Cuba facing humanitarian crisis |
| Trump’s Position | Has stated “Cuba is next” following Iran and Venezuela campaigns |
| Constitutional Clash | Democrats argue War Powers Act requires congressional approval; White House cites commander-in-chief authority |
Follow Reflecto News for continuous updates on the executive-congressional power struggle, U.S. policy toward Cuba, and all breaking news from Washington.
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