Americans are more likely to oppose than support recent U.S. military actions in Venezuela, though opinions have become less negative since the attack nearly two weeks ago. Many cite seeking access to oil as a reason for the intervention, though only one-quarter of Americans think the U.S. should take Venezuela's oil. A large majority believe the Venezuelan people should determine their next leader, rather than the U.S. government.
What you need to know about Americans' views on Venezuela, as of the January 9 - 12, 2026 Economist / YouGov Poll:
- More Americans say that recent U.S. military intervention in Venezuela was not justified than justified (45% vs. 34%)
- By a smaller margin (45% to 40%), Americans oppose the U.S. military overthrowing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro
- Support for Maduro's overthrow is about twice as high now as it was two weeks before the invasion, when only 21% were in favor
- During the same period, Republican support for the U.S. overthrowing Maduro has risen to 78% from 43%
- A majority (57%) of Americans believe that Trump should have sought authorization from Congress before using military force in Venezuela
- Republican views on this have moved significantly against requiring authorization since the attack: Only 21% now say Trump should've sought authorization before invading Venezuela, compared to 58% who said before the attack that he should seek it if he decides to use force
- Why do Americans think the U.S. took military action in Venezuela? When selecting all reasons that they think apply from a list of eight potential reasons, Americans are most likely to cite gaining access to oil (62% chose this)
- 42% say we did so to remove a corrupt leader, 37% say it was to stop drug trafficking, and 31% say it was to distract Americans from domestic issues
- Democrats and Republicans have vastly different views on what motivated U.S. military action in Venezuela
- Democrats are far more likely than Republicans to say the action was motivated by gaining access to oil (75% vs. 48%) and that it was motivated by distracting Americans from domestic issues (54% vs. 8%)
- Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say reasons for military action include removing a corrupt leader (66% vs. 24%), stopping drug trafficking (67% vs. 13%), and stopping terrorism (39% vs. 6%)
- Half (50%) of Americans think the U.S. should put Maduro on trial for drug-trafficking and a similar share (54%) think he will be found guilty of any of the government's charges against him. Only 20% oppose trying Maduro for drug trafficking and even fewer (9%) think he won't be found guilty
- Americans are skeptical of U.S. involvement in Venezuela beyond the ouster and trial of Maduro. Only one-quarter (24%) of Americans say that the U.S. should take Venezuela's oil and an even smaller share (15%) say that the U.S. should run Venezuela for the next few years
- Vast majorities of Democrats oppose both of these actions. Republicans are evenly divided on whether the U.S. should run Venezuela but are far more likely to support than oppose the U.S. taking Venezuela's oil (51% vs. 20%)
- The vast majority (78%) of Americans say that the president of Venezuela should be determined by the Venezuelan people
- Only 6% say the Venezuelan president should be decided by the U.S. government
Image: Getty (Carlos Becerra / Stringer)
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