Senate Republicans block attempt to force vote on Cuba war powers resolution

Republicans blocked the vote in a 51-47 split, with Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Rand Paul of Kentucky voting with Democrats and Democratic Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman voting with Republicans.

Published: April 28, 2026 7:58pm

Senate Republicans successfully blocked Democrats Tuesday night from forcing a vote on a measure that would prevent President Donald Trump from launching a military attack on Cuba.

Virginia Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine introduced the measure last month in an attempt to get ahead of Trump potentially attacking the island nation, after he launched a military strike on Iran and carried out a military operation to retrieve former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from his country to stand trial in the United States.

Republicans blocked the vote in a 51-47 split, with Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Rand Paul of Kentucky voting with Democrats and Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman voting with Republicans. 

Alabama GOP Sen. Tommy Tuberville and Virginia Democratic Sen. Mark Warner did not vote on the motion, which sought to move the resolution out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott argued the whole resolution was "moot" because the United States is not at war with Cuba.

“The measure we’re talking about is completely out of touch with the facts in Cuba nor is it relevant to anything actually happening in Cuba right now,” Scott said. “President Trump has never suggested we put troops on the ground in Cuba. So this entire effort is moot.”

The resolution comes after Trump warned last month that Cuba is "next" when talking about the success of the Venezuela operation.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage. 

The Facts Inside Our Reporter's Notebook

Unlock unlimited access

  • No Ads Within Stories
  • No Autoplay Videos
  • VIP access to exclusive Just the News newsmaker events hosted by John Solomon and his team.
  • Support the investigative reporting and honest news presentation you've come to enjoy from Just the News.
  • Just the News Spotlight

    Support Just the News