US Democrats plan war powers push after Trump threatens Oman

US congressional Democrats are preparing a new effort to limit President Donald Trump’s authority to use military force after he threatened on August 17 to “bomb the shit” out of Oman.

Representative Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, told Axios that lawmakers may seek to invoke war powers legislation more broadly in response to the president’s threats.

“At this point we may just need to file war powers resolutions for the 192 other countries,” Khanna said.

Senator Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat, separately announced on August 17 that he plans to introduce a war powers resolution concerning Oman when the Senate returns from recess next month.

Kaine said the United States has “a strong diplomatic relationship and a free trade agreement” with Oman and warned that Trump’s threats could strengthen countries Washington considers strategic rivals.

The senator said such rhetoric works to the advantage of “real adversaries” including Russia and China.

Kaine said he hoped to “find some Republican colleagues to join with Democrats and check this blindly stumbling power-drunk President from inflicting more damage on the U.S. and the world.”

By Sabina Mammadli