Senate GOP moves to block Dems' war powers push, preserve Trump's authority in rare move

Republicans are considering making a point of order to table the resolution and argue that because there are no troops on the ground in Venezuela, nor active combat involving U.S. forces, Kaine's bid is moot.

But whether Republicans can muster support to kill the resolution with the rare move remains to be seen. Five Senate Republicans broke ranks to advance the war powers push last week, and the point of order can pass or fail by a simple 50-vote majority.

When asked if the votes were there to effectively turn off the bipartisan push, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said, "Uncertain."

Still, Thune made the case that the resolution was likely not germane and able to be turned off, because no actual fighting was happening in Venezuela.

"I think that it's pretty clear, in my view at least, that there are no hostilities that exist today, which, as I've suggested before, to me at least means that shouldn't be accorded privilege on the floor, that expedited consideration on the floor for something that doesn't exist at the moment," Thune said. "But nevertheless it's all about the votes."

Whether Republicans can actually kill the resolution before it ever reaches a final vote and possibly a lengthy marathon amendment process known as a "vote-a-rama," will ultimately be a test of Senate GOP leadership's and the White House's lobbying abilities to flip the five Republicans who pushed back against Trump.

But Trump's repeated attacks against the cohort of Republicans who sided with Senate Democrats could backfire and see the resolution pass.

Collins reaffirmed on Tuesday that she was still in favor of the war powers resolution, and Paul, who is a co-sponsor of the legislation, is unlikely to budge.

A source told Fox News Digital that Hawley, however, flipped his position on the matter and would support the point of order after getting assurances from Trump officials that no boots would be on the ground in the country.