Two Senate Republicans joined Dems to oppose Trump’s unilateral boat strikes

By a vote of 51 to 48, most Senate Republicans efficiently rejected a movement to repeal a measure aimed toward undermining President Donald Trump’s observe of unilaterally ordering strikes towards ships he claims have been carrying medicine.

Two Senate Republicans, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, voted with Democrats in help of the movement to discharge the International Relations Committee joint decision, however the movement didn’t move.

Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the one member of his occasion to hitch Republicans in voting towards the discharge movement.

WAR AGAINST CARTELS? THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS IT HAS A STRONG CASE TO ATTACK NARCO-TERRORIST GROUPS

Left: Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., arrives on the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, on September 26, 2023; Proper: Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Ak., leaves a gathering with Senate Republicans on the U.S. Capitol on Nov. 16, 2022 in Washington, D.C. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Photos)

“Absolutely help addressing the scourge of drug cartel trafficking into our nation,” Fetterman mentioned in a speech after at X final month.

The textual content of the proposal reads partly: “The Congress hereby directs the President to terminate the usage of the armed forces of america for hostilities towards any group designated as a overseas terrorist group or specifically designated international terrorist on or after February 20, 2025, towards any States by which such entities function, or towards any non-State group engaged within the promotion, trafficking, and distribution of illicit medicine and different associated actions, until expressly licensed by a declaration of warfare or particular authorization for the usage of navy drive.”

Final month, Trump introduced a number of assaults on ships, all of which he mentioned resulted within the killing of “narco-terrorists.”

TRUMP ADMIN TELLS CONGRESS IT DETERMINED US TO BE INVOLVED IN FORMAL ‘ARMED CONFLICT’ WITH ‘TERRORIST’ DRUG CARTELS

President Donald Trump speaks with members of the media on the South Garden of the White Home earlier than boarding Marine One on Sunday, October 5, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg by way of Getty Photos)

Warfare Secretary Pete Hegseth additionally reported a strike earlier this month.

“Our intelligence has confirmed past doubt that this ship was trafficking narcotics, that the folks on board have been narco-terrorists and that they have been working on a recognized narcotics transit route,” Hegseth mentioned within the paper. after on X.

“These assaults will proceed till the assaults on the American individuals are over!!!!” he exclaimed.

The US assaults one other suspected drug trafficking boat close to Venezuela, killing 4

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GOP Sen. Todd Younger of Indiana, who voted towards the discharge movement, mentioned in a part of a statement that he “can not help a decision that probably limits our potential to guard American service members within the Center East.”

“Regardless of my opposition to this decision, I’m deeply involved concerning the legality of the latest strikes within the Caribbean and the trajectory of navy operations with out congressional approval or debate and the help of the American folks. Whereas the Structure grants Article II powers to the chief department to defend towards imminent threats, Congress alone is charged with choices on warfare and peace,” he mentioned in one other a part of the declaration.