Defense Democrats file war powers resolution to prevent Trump from attacking Cuba without approval by Ellen Mitchell - 03/13/26 10:53 AM ET by Ellen Mitchell - 03/13/26 10:53 AM ET Share ✕ LinkedIn LinkedIn Email Email NOW PLAYING Senate Democrats have filed legislation that would stop the U.S. from going to war with Cuba without congressional approval as President Trump has threatened a “takeover” of the country. Democratic Sens. Tim Kaine (Va.), Ruben Gallego (Ariz.) and Adam Schiff (Calif.) on Thursday filed the war powers resolution, which could receive a vote by the end of the month. The resolution comes as Trump has said the U.S. could carry out a “friendly” or “not friendly takeover” of Cuba, predicting the collapse of the 67-year-long communist rule under pressure from the U.S. “Only Congress has the power to declare war under the Constitution, but [Trump] operates with the belief that the U.S. military is a palace guard, ordering military action in the Caribbean, Venezuela, and Iran without Congress’ authorization or any explanation for his actions to the American people,” Kaine said in a statement to The Hill. “We shouldn’t risk our sons and daughters’ lives at the whims of any one person.”  Democrats have repeatedly used war powers resolutions to try to limit or curtail Trump’s attacks on countries including Venezuela and Iran. So far Republicans have mostly backed the president, with no such legislation passing.  Democrats have already filed five different resolutions directing the administration to remove U.S. troops from military hostilities against Iran, and they plan to force Republicans to repeatedly debate and vote on the conflict on the Senate floor unless they agree to hold public hearings on the conflict. A resolution sponsored by Kaine to halt military action in Iran  failed last week  in a vote that fell largely along party lines. Trump said earlier this week that Secretary of State Marco Rubio was negotiating with Cuba’s leadership amid an energy crisis in the country made worse by a U.S. blockade of the island. Cuba President Manuel Diaz-Canel  on Friday confirmed  that his government is holding talks with the Trump administration to address “bilateral differences” and identify “areas of cooperation.”  Trump since January has imposed a U.S.-quarantine against fuel imports to Cuba, halting Venezuelan energy deliveries to the island country after deposing former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a surprise military operation. Maduro is in the U.S. to stand trial for drug charges.  Trump’s use of military action to take out foreign opponents in his second term coupled with his recent rhetoric on Cuba has raised fears that the country could be next — especially as the U.S. has had a decades-long tense relationship with the island. Add as preferred source on Google Tags Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Share ✕ LinkedIn LinkedIn Email Email More Defense News See All Defense US military refueling plane crashes in Iraq: What to know by Sarah Davis 32 minutes ago Defense  /  32 minutes ago