A GOP lawmaker’s absence nearly handed Democrats a major victory in their ongoing efforts to hamstring President Donald Trump’s authority to secure the Western Hemisphere, according to a Fox News report that highlights the razor-thin margins and internal distractions plaguing House Republicans.
On Thursday, the House took up a resolution that would have directed President Trump to remove any U.S. military forces from Venezuela and restricted his war powers in the region. Democrats and some critics have framed recent U.S. actions—such as operations leading to the capture of Nicolás Maduro—as unauthorized “wars” or impeachable offenses, pushing to reassert congressional oversight and limit executive flexibility amid Trump’s America First agenda.
The measure advanced amid chaos on the floor, fueled by several Republican absences that left the GOP’s slim majority vulnerable. With recent vacancies from the death of Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) and the resignation of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), Republicans could afford only minimal defections or no-shows on key votes.
Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas) was notably absent for initial proceedings, including two earlier key votes—one on a procedural measure tied to spending legislation that passed by a single vote. Hunt, who has missed a significant number of votes in recent months (87 in 2025 alone, or about 25.1% of measures), was campaigning in Texas for a Senate primary challenge against Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas).
His absence forced GOP leadership, including Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), to hold votes open longer than usual, creating disarray.
Other Republicans, such as Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) and Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.), also missed earlier votes but arrived in time. The resolution came perilously close to passing—nearly by a one-vote margin—before Hunt rushed back to Washington and cast the deciding vote to kill it, preventing Democrats from scoring a major PR win and symbolic restraint on Trump’s ability to act decisively against threats in America’s backyard.
Sen. Cornyn took to X to criticize Hunt, noting that while the congressman’s vote wasn’t ultimately needed for other priorities like the spending package, his tardiness “nearly handed Democrats a PR coup and created chaos on the House floor.”
Hunt’s office pushed back strongly, stating: “Zero bills, resolutions, or GOP priorities have been delayed or stopped because of Rep. Hunt’s priority to barnstorm Texas to retire John Cornyn.” They emphasized that Hunt left the campaign trail, returned urgently, and delivered the vote that “nuked the radical Democrats’ plan to block President Trump from securing the Western Hemisphere.”
Speaker Johnson acknowledged the complications, saying Hunt’s absence “did not make his job any easier.” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has previously dismissed similar War Powers Act efforts as a “power grab by Congress against the commander in chief.”
The administration has consistently maintained that no U.S. boots are on the ground in Venezuela, framing operations as targeted and necessary to counter threats from socialist regimes and narco-trafficking networks in the region.
This near-miss underscores the fragility of the Republican House majority and the risks posed by intraparty distractions, including high-profile primary challenges. As President Trump continues aggressive moves to protect U.S. interests abroad—while Democrats seek every opportunity to tie his hands—the episode serves as a reminder that unity and attendance are critical to advancing the America First agenda against relentless opposition.
