Senator Markey Votes to Oppose Trump’s Illegal War for Oil in Venezuela

Washington (January 14, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) released the following statement tonight after voting with the minority to advance the debate on preventing the Trump administration from further military action against Venezuela without congressional approval. The vote to advance debate failed, 51-50.

"President Trump's unilateral and illegal invasion of Venezuela risks pulling the United States into another endless war, while destabilizing an entire region. Tonight, the Senate failed to uphold the Constitution and continued to allow Trump to drag this country into an unconstitutional war for oil.

"The Constitution is clear: The power to declare war belongs to Congress-not the President. When a President uses force without congressional authorization, that is a dangerous abuse of power. That is dictatorship.

"We cannot allow America's serious decisions to go to war to be governed by President Trump's profit motive instead of the Constitution. The Trump administration must immediately halt further military action in Venezuela and come to Congress if it believes force is justified. If the President cannot make that case to the American people, he has no business putting American servicemembers in harm's way.

"We must draw the line here-at Venezuela-before Trump starts more reckless, illegal wars in Greenland, Cuba, Iran, or elsewhere."

Senator Markey has been outspoken in his opposition to U.S. military action in Venezuela. Last week, Senator Markey voted with the majority in a procedural vote on the Venezuela war powers resolution. In November, Senator Markey supported Senator Tim Kaine's (D-Va.) War Powers Resolution that would have blocked Donald Trump from authorizing military strikes on Venezuela. Republicans also voted down the resolution.

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