According to a recent national poll, support for the military operation ordered by President Donald Trump to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro is causing a notable divide among Republicans and Democrats.
In a Reuters/Ipsos survey, 65% of Republicans expressed support for the U.S. military’s early morning assault on Saturday that resulted in Maduro’s capture and his subsequent handover to federal authorities on drug trafficking allegations. However, the same poll, conducted on Sunday and Monday, indicated that only 23% of independents and 11% of Democrats approved of military actions in Venezuela.
Interestingly, nearly two-thirds of Democrats and 35% of independents disapproved of the strike, while only 5% of Republicans shared that sentiment. Overall, the survey revealed that about one-third of respondents backed the mission, another third had no opinion or didn’t respond, and 34% disapproved.
After Maduro’s arrest, Attorney General Bondi remarked to Fox News that “nothing is off the table” regarding the situation. President Trump, who has criticized foreign interventions by previous administrations, emphasized that the U.S. intends to “run” Venezuela, insisting on the nation’s responsibility in the matter.
Despite the military action, a significant 72% of all adults expressed apprehension. In the same survey, 90% of Democrats, 74% of independents, and 54% of Republicans voiced concerns about the U.S. potentially becoming too entrenched in Venezuela.
On Monday, Trump mentioned he was prepared to deploy U.S. ground forces should the leadership in Venezuela fail to cooperate. He reaffirmed his commitment to revamping and rebuilding Venezuela’s oil sector, stating that the U.S. should have “full access” to its extensive oil reserves.
Of those surveyed, 60% of Republicans were in favor of sending U.S. troops to Venezuela, yet only 30% of all adults shared that view. Interestingly, only 43% of Republican respondents agreed with the stance that the U.S. should have a policy governing affairs in the Western Hemisphere, while 19% disagreed, and the remaining respondents were either unsure or did not answer.
The president’s approval rating in this poll stood at 42%, reflecting a 3-point increase from the previous Reuters/Ipsos survey in December.
