President Donald Trump has publicly targeted five Republican senators for their vote to limit his military authority in Venezuela.

On Thursday, Trump called out Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Todd Young of Indiana, and Josh Hawley of Missouri for supporting legislation that blocks future military action in Venezuela without congressional approval, labeling the measure a threat to national security and an overreach on his powers as commander in chief.

Trump's Rebuke Sparks Party Tension

The issue has sparked intense debate within Republican ranks, threatening to fracture party unity at a critical time.

Trump took to Truth Social to express his frustration, declaring that the five senators should be “ashamed” of their votes and “should never be elected to office again,” a sharp rebuke that underscores the depth of his disagreement with their stance.

While the vote itself is a significant policy clash, the personal nature of Trump’s criticism adds fuel to an already simmering intraparty conflict.

Hawley’s Surprising Break with Trump

Among the dissenters, Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri stands out as a particularly intriguing figure, given his status as a close populist ally of the president.

Hawley justified his vote by expressing concern over the possibility of Trump deploying troops to Venezuela without oversight, telling followers on X, “Concerning Venezuela, my read of the Constitution is that if the President feels the need to put boots on the ground there in the future, Congress would need to vote on it."

That’s a fair point on constitutional grounds, but it’s hard not to wonder if this principled stand risks alienating the very base that propelled Hawley to prominence—sometimes loyalty and pragmatism must balance idealism.

Collins Faces Unique Political Pressure

Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, a frequent target of Trump’s ire, also finds herself in the crosshairs, with her moderate positions often clashing with the party’s more hardline elements.

As the only one of these senators representing a state won by Vice President Kamala Harris in recent elections, Collins faces a tough reelection battle in 2026 against strong Democratic challengers like Bernie Sanders-backed Graham Platner and Maine Gov. Janet Mills.

Her victory could be pivotal in preventing Democrats from regaining Senate control, yet Trump’s public criticism might just hand her opponents a campaign talking point on a silver platter.

Policy Disagreement or Personal Feud?

Trump’s argument that the legislation is unconstitutional raises valid questions about the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches on matters of war and peace.

Yet, his decision to single out allies like Hawley—who has backed Trump on other key issues, such as banning large investors from buying single-family homes—suggests this feud might be as much about loyalty as it is about policy.

If the goal is to unify the party, publicly shaming senators who’ve often stood by the president’s side seems like a curious strategy, to put it mildly.