President Donald Trump refused to move on after the Senate advanced a resolution aimed at limiting his ability to use U.S. military force against Venezuela. The procedural vote didn’t immediately change policy, but it touched a nerve — prompting a public blast from Trump and a round of tense phone calls to the Republicans who backed the measure.
The Senate’s move came after Trump’s unauthorized military action against Venezuela overnight Friday, Jan. 3, and the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on federal drug trafficking and weapons charges.
Five Senate Republicans — Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Rand Paul, Josh Hawley and Todd Young — joined Democrats in a 52–47 vote Thursday, Jan. 8, to advance the war powers resolution, despite GOP leadership’s attempts to block it. The resolution needed 51 votes to move forward, but it was widely seen as having little chance of becoming law even if it ultimately passed the Senate.
Still, the vote stood out as a rare moment of resistance from a Republican-controlled Congress that has largely avoided confronting Trump directly over executive power.
Trump’s public outburst
After the vote, Trump erupted on Truth Social, naming and condemning the five Republicans who supported the resolution.
“Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Rand Paul, Josh Hawley, and Todd Young should never be elected to office again,” he wrote.
He went on to call the Vietnam-era War Powers Resolution “unconstitutional” and argued it interfered with his “Authority as Commander in Chief.”
The post triggered a wave of sharp reactions online.
Pressure behind the scenes
Trump’s frustration didn’t end online. Behind the scenes, he began calling the same Republican senators he had publicly attacked — and the conversations were described as confrontational.
According to congressional and White House officials, Trump personally called Collins, Murkowski, Paul, Hawley and Young to rebuke them for backing the resolution. In at least some of the calls, he accused the senators of “voting against the military” and against him personally.
Officials said Trump understood the procedural vote would not meaningfully reduce his power, but viewed the senators’ decision as a personal betrayal — and as a rejection of the Venezuela operation he considers a success.
In Collins’ case, the exchange was described as especially heated.
According to two sources familiar with the call, Trump launched into a profanity-laced tirade, telling the Maine senator she “never did anything for him” and suggesting he might support an opponent against her.
“He called her and then basically read her the riot act,” one Senate GOP member told The Hill, describing it as a “profanity-laced rant.”
Another source said Trump was “very mad. Very hot.”
Collins’ spokesperson confirmed the call took place but declined to provide details. When reporters later read Trump’s Truth Social post to Collins, she responded tersely.
“The president obviously is unhappy with the vote,” Collins said. “I guess this means that he would prefer to have Gov. Mills or somebody else.”
Collins does not currently have a Republican challenger. So far, only Democratic Gov. Janet Mills and Democrat Graham Platner have announced plans to run.
Others confirm contact
Trump also called Sen. Todd Young, though that conversation was described as “direct but cordial.” A Murkowski spokesperson confirmed Trump contacted her as well, adding that “attempts to apply pressure do not have an effect.”
White House officials described Trump as “uniquely angry” about the procedural vote and reportedly urged aides to ensure the final vote the following week did not go against him.
Even Sen. Steve Daines of Montana, who missed the vote while celebrating his anniversary, initially drew Trump’s ire — until he assured the president he planned to vote with him later.
A broader clash over war powers
The War Powers Resolution of 1973 requires presidents to seek congressional approval before launching military action. Trump has repeatedly framed the law as an attack on his authority, arguing it limits the commander-in-chief’s ability to act quickly.
While Trump appeared to recognize the Senate action would not immediately strip him of power, he still moved to politically punish Republicans who crossed him.
Some Republicans warned privately that the strategy could backfire in an election year, especially in competitive races where intra-party fights risk weakening incumbents.
