A new CNN survey shows a sharp surge in public support for U.S. military action in Venezuela following the dramatic pre-dawn raid that led to the capture of longtime dictator Nicolás Maduro. CNN’s chief data analyst Harry Enten acknowledged the shift as a “dramatic change” favorable to President Trump, noting that public opinion moved significantly after the operation was carried out.
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Before the raid, just 21 percent of Americans supported using military force to remove Maduro, while 47 percent opposed it. After his capture, support jumped to 37 percent — a 16-point increase — while opposition fell to 38 percent, a nine-point drop. The remaining respondents said they were unsure, reflecting lingering uncertainty but a clear trend toward approval.
Enten said the numbers show Americans tend to rally behind foreign policy actions they view as successful. “It turns out, Americans like what they deem to be successful foreign policy operations,” he explained, adding that many voters currently see Maduro’s removal as a win, at least in its early stages.
Other recent polls mirror those findings. A Washington Post survey found Americans nearly evenly split, with 40 percent approving of the raid, 42 percent disapproving, and 18 percent undecided. A separate YouGov poll showed 36 percent support for using military force to capture Maduro, 39 percent opposed, and the rest undecided. Both surveys revealed deep partisan divides, with Republicans strongly backing the operation and Democrats largely opposing it.
Maduro, who was first indicted in the U.S. in 2020, is now facing multiple federal charges including narco-terrorism after a superseding indictment was unsealed earlier this month. President Trump has since said the U.S. will oversee Venezuela during a temporary transition period, pressing interim leader Delcy Rodríguez to cooperate on issues ranging from drug trafficking to the removal of Iranian and Cuban operatives, while U.S. companies work to stabilize the country’s oil infrastructure.[/read]