Americans are more likely to oppose than support recent U.S. military actions in Venezuela, and opinions have changed little in the past week. Few Americans want the U.S. to run Venezuela for the next few years, and only one-quarter of Americans think the U.S. should take Venezuela's oil.
What you need to know about Americans' views on Venezuela, as of the January 16 - 19, 2026 Economist / YouGov Poll:
- Americans' views on the situation in Venezuela have changed little in the past week
- By 54% to 31%, Americans oppose the U.S. using military force to invade Venezuela
- More Americans say that recent U.S. military intervention in Venezuela was not justified than say it was justified (44% vs. 35%)
- Only one-quarter (25%) of Americans think that the U.S. should take Venezuela's oil and an even smaller share (17%) say that the U.S. should run Venezuela for the next few years
- Large majorities of Democrats oppose both of these actions. Republicans are nearly evenly divided on whether the U.S. should run Venezuela but are twice as likely to support than to oppose the U.S. taking Venezuela's oil (51% vs. 26%)
Image: Getty (Jesus Vargas/Getty Images)
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