Donald Trump wins veto fight as Senate fails to block arms sales to Saudis
- Few Republicans join Democrats in voting for resolutions to override president’s vetos
- Result demonstrates limits of Congress’ ability to act as check on Trump’s policies, even those opposed by members of his own party
The Senate lost a bid to override US President Donald Trump’s veto and block arms sales to Saudi Arabia to punish the kingdom for the murder of columnist Jamal Khashoggi.
The votes on Monday demonstrate the limits of Congress’ ability to act as a check on the president’s policies, even on foreign policy issues where some Republicans oppose the president’s position.
Only a handful of Republican senators joined the Democrats in voting to override the vetos. None of the three resolutions got more than 46 votes – far short of the two-thirds majority needed.
Senator Bob Menendez, the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, said Saudi Arabia has been targeting civilians in its war against Houthi rebels in neighbouring Yemen.
“There are few days in this body when we can say our votes will save lives,” Menendez of New Jersey said on the Senate floor just before the votes. “Today is such a day.”
The three resolutions were intended to halt what House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer called “the most controversial and significant sales contemplated”, including precision-guided munitions for Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Lawmakers are increasingly questioning the war in Yemen that has resulted in one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
