1. United States
2. Utah
3. Letter

I am alarmed and outraged by President Trump's unilateral military actions in the Caribbean and Pacific, which began in early September without congressional approval. This expanding bombing campaign against alleged drug-trafficking cartel boats, with potential escalation to land strikes against Venezuela, is a flagrant violation of constitutional law and a dangerous abuse of executive power. The Constitution unequivocally grants Congress, not the President, the authority to declare war. By conducting these military strikes without congressional authorization, President Trump is effectively declaring war unilaterally, brazenly disregarding both the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution. This sets a perilous precedent that threatens the very foundation of our democratic system of checks and balances. The gravity of this situation cannot be overstated. Several Republican senators, including Mike Rounds, Thom Tillis, Susan Collins, James Lankford, and Rand Paul, have already voiced their opposition. Senator Paul accurately characterized these strikes as "extrajudicial killings," drawing disturbing parallels to actions taken by authoritarian regimes like China and Iran. The United States must not align itself with such egregious violations of international law and human rights. The deployment of the USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier and increased naval presence near Venezuela further escalates tensions and raises the specter of imminent land strikes. President Trump's assertion that he might explain his actions to Congress before launching land strikes, but doesn't require their approval, is a direct challenge to congressional authority and must be met with immediate and forceful opposition. I strongly urge you to support the bipartisan resolution prohibiting attacks against Venezuela without explicit congressional authorization. It is imperative that we defend the system of checks and balances that has safeguarded our democracy for centuries. The President must not be permitted to engage in acts of war without proper oversight and approval from Congress. Time is critical. With the looming threat of land strikes on Venezuela, immediate action is essential to prevent further erosion of congressional war powers and potential violations of international law. I implore you to act decisively and swiftly to reassert Congress's constitutional authority and halt any unauthorized military actions against Venezuela or any other nation. The integrity of our democracy and our standing in the international community hang in the balance.