Republicans in the House of Representatives block another Democratic resolution aimed at limiting Trump’s military actions in Venezuela

The House of Representatives rejected on Thursday a new Democrat-backed resolution that would have ordered President Donald Trump to withdraw all troops deployed in Venezuela and barred him from sending additional forces without congressional approval, after the vote ended in a 215–215 tie and failed to secure the majority required for final passage. The only Republicans who voted in favor of the measure were Don Bacon of Nebraska and Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who introduced the legislation alongside Democratic Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts. The outcome represents a victory for both Trump and the Republican caucus in the House, led by Speaker Mike Johnson.

Democrats forced a vote on the war powers resolution in an effort to compel Trump to withdraw U.S. troops from the South American country, prompting a debate among Republicans over Trump’s actions in the Western Hemisphere. Johnson kept the vote open for more than 20 minutes, giving Republicans time to vote against the resolution. Ultimately, a late-arriving Republican, Texas Rep. Wesley Hunt, entered the chamber and broke the tie. The delay was marked by high tension, with New York Democratic Rep. Pat Ryan shouting demands to close the vote.

The Trump administration told senators last week that there are no U.S. troops on the ground in Venezuela and pledged to seek congressional approval before launching large-scale military operations in the South American nation. Despite this, Democrats argued the resolution was necessary following events on January 3, when the U.S. military entered the capital, Caracas, and captured socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who are currently being held in a New York jail after being indicted in a court there for facilitating drug trafficking into the United States.