Americans Find Rare Common Ground After U.S. Military Action in Venezuela
US military operations in Venezuela have sparked significant political debate, but a new national poll reveals that Americans from both major parties share one clear conviction despite deep divides on other matters.
U.S. forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife in a large-scale operation in Caracas, President Donald Trump claimed early Saturday. A Justice Department indictment accuses them with narco-terrorism, and they were brought to New York for court. The announcement sparked worldwide and domestic debate regarding presidential power, foreign meddling, and Venezuela’s leadership.
A new poll found that Americans are split on whether to employ military force to capture Maduro. Four in ten adults support the measure, while a similar percentage oppose it, demonstrating public division. The split is sharper along party lines. The operation is supported by most Republicans and opposed by most Democrats.
The poll also shows considerable anxiety about the decision-making process. Over 60% of Americans think Congress should have approved the operation. Most Republicans believe the president used his authority properly, but most Democrats believe congressional permission should have come first. This difference reflects debates concerning executive control in overseas military engagements.
Polls also split on whether Maduro should be tried in the US. Half of Americans think he should be charged with drug trafficking, while more than a third are undecided. Fewer oppose the notion. Republicans are more likely to support a trial than Democrats, who are undecided.
The poll shows one uncommon national unity despite these stark divisions. Across all political stripes, most Americans feel that Venezuelans should choose their own leaders. Over 90% of respondents—Democrats, Republicans, and independents—said Venezuelans should choose their leaders, not the US. This unanimity stands out in a period of declining bipartisan foreign policy agreement.
The findings come weeks after President Trump declared in an interview that he would not rule out greater confrontation with Venezuela but would not say whether he wanted Maduro removed from power. His words and the recent operation have sparked controversy regarding America’s influence on foreign politics.
On January 3 and 4, 1,004 U.S. adults were polled via text message. The margin of error is 3.5 percentage points. Despite disagreements about the operation’s legality and prudence, the results imply that Americans of all parties believe Venezuela’s destiny should be chosen by its people.
Sources:
U.S. Department of Justice
White House statements
National public opinion poll conducted by The Washington Post