One in three Americans approves of the U.S. military strike on Venezuela that led to the capture of President Nicolas Maduro, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Monday, even as broad concerns persist about the risks of deeper U.S. involvement in the country.
The two-day poll found that 33% of Americans support the operation, while 72% worry the United States could become too entangled in Venezuela. Support varies sharply along party lines: 65% of Republicans back the strike ordered by President Donald Trump, compared with 11% of Democrats and 23% of independents.
U.S. forces carried out a pre-dawn raid in Caracas on Saturday, capturing Maduro and transferring him to U.S. federal authorities for prosecution on alleged drug-trafficking charges. Following the operation, Trump said the United States would “run” Venezuela, signaling a major shift for a president who had long criticized foreign military entanglements.
The move comes as Trump’s administration had previously emphasized a focus on domestic economic issues ahead of this year’s midterm elections, which will determine control of Congress for the remainder of his term.
The poll highlights strong Republican backing for a more assertive foreign policy in the region. About 43% of Republicans agreed that the United States should pursue a policy of “dominating affairs in the Western Hemisphere.” Around 60% supported sending U.S. troops to Venezuela, and 59% favored taking control of the country’s oil fields. Overall, 30% of Americans supported stationing troops there.
Trump has said the United States needs “total access” to Venezuela’s oil fields and warned that further strikes could follow if Venezuelan leaders do not cooperate. While it remains unclear how Washington would govern the country, Trump suggested U.S. control could be enforced through pressure rather than direct administration.
Despite Republican support, concerns remain. More than half of Republicans said they worry about the financial costs of involvement and the risk to U.S. military personnel.
The poll, conducted online among 1,248 U.S. adults nationwide, showed Trump’s approval rating rising to 42%, up from 39% in December, with a margin of error of about three percentage points.
