Democrats ready war powers blitz to exploit a Trump ‘vulnerability’

Published January 16, 2026 6:00am ET



Senate Democrats believe they’ve uncovered a backdoor to limiting President Donald Trump’s military operations abroad and conducting oversight despite limited minority power and few Republicans willing to buck the administration.

Democrats are prepared to force a flurry of votes on war powers resolutions in the coming weeks and months after one on Venezuela — despite its failure — secured last-minute concessions from the White House. Democrats are eyeing six other countries where Trump has threatened, or has already taken, military action: Iran, Colombia, Cuba, Nigeria, Mexico, and Greenland, which is an autonomous territory of Denmark.

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