Washington, D.C. — On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate voted on resolutions to limit arms sales to the United Arab Emirates (S.J.Res.54) and Qatar (S.J.Res.53) because of the UAE’s arming of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group in Sudan’s civil war and both countries’ shady business deals with business entities connected to President Donald Trump. Though the resolutions were not adopted, the fact that these votes were successfully forced and received support from 39 Democrats, with even one Republican voting present, sends a historic message to the UAE, Qatar, and President Trump. The resolutions were led by Sens. Chris Murphy, Tim Kaine, Chris Van Hollen, Bernie Sanders and Brian Schatz. Demand Progress launched a campaign asking senators to support the resolutions and joined a coalition in support of them.
The following is a statement from Demand Progress Senior Policy Advisor Cavan Kharrazian:
“We thank the Senate leaders who forced this historic vote and all the senators who stood in support of these resolutions. Resisting President Trump’s abuses of power and standing up for international human rights requires more than rhetoric—it also requires political resolve, especially in moments like this, to reject arms deals with atrocity-enablers and governments entangled in Trump family corruption. This vote reflects a growing movement to reassert congressional authority over decisions too often dominated by executive overreach.
However, we are profoundly disappointed in those who voted no—despite credible evidence that the UAE is arming forces committing atrocity crimes in Sudan, and despite clear signs of influence peddling and self-dealing by President Trump. Demand Progress will continue working with offices to ensure Congress fights to reassert its role as a check on executive overreach and misguided foreign policy.”