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By Dan Gooding
Associate News Editor
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President Donald Trump appeared to have divided Americans on Monday morning in three separate polls based on his actions in Venezuela over the weekend.
A YouGov poll conducted on January 4 showed 39 percent of Americans approved of the president’s handling of Venezuela, while 46 percent did not approve. Another, conducted by The Washington Post, showed a 40-42 percent split. Another, conducted by Reuters/Ipsos and released later Monday, showed that one in three Americans approved of the operation to remove Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
"Most Republicans—and probably most Americans—agree that Nicolás Maduro was a brutal dictator who deserved to be removed from power. In fact, capturing Maduro may be the most traditionally Republican thing Donald Trump has done since returning to office," Republican strategist Matt Wylie, who founded Freedom Project USA, told Newsweek on Monday.
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"The problem for the president—and Republicans—is that this felt like it was coming out of left field. One day, out of the blue, we were watching footage of narco-terrorist boats being blown up. If the president believed this was necessary, he owed the country a clear, public explanation. Instead, we got shock without context."
Why It Matters
The surveys give an initial glimpse of public opinion following the military operation on Saturday, which saw Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, detained and taken to the U.S. on drug and weapons charges.
Trump has been praised and condemned in seemingly equal measure for the sudden action against the South American nation, with some feeling Congress should have approved the mission, while others saw it as a sign of strength against a leader many saw as illegitimate.
What To Know
The YouGov poll of 991 U.S. adults asked: "Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling Venezuela?" with clear differences along party lines.
Republicans who responded strongly supported the president, with 54 percent strongly approving of his actions, and 22 percent somewhat approving. By contrast, 58 percent of Democrats strongly disapproved, with 4 percent strongly approving.
Trump also saw the most support from older voters—mainly those over 65—while the largest share of strong disapprovals came from 30-44-year-olds, at 43 percent.
When split by race, white voters were relatively even—42 percent in the approve range, compared to 43 percent in the disapprove range. Black respondents leaned more toward disapproval at 56 percent, while Hispanics were somewhat divided, with 39 percent approving and 46 percent disapproving.
The Post’s survey, of 1,004 Americans texted between January 3 and 4, again showed a mixed response among Republicans, Democrats and independents, with some supporting the action against Maduro and others voicing concerns about the U.S. getting involved in another country’s affairs.
In this survey, 74 percent of Republicans approved of Trump’s actions, compared with 76 percent of Democrats who disapproved of the operation. For independents, it was a 34-42 split in favor of disapproval.
Those polled were also asked about congressional approval, which several leading Democrats and some Republicans have said should have been sought before Trump and his team acted. More than 6 in 10 of those asked said approval should have been a requirement.
Despite that, only 14 percent of respondents to the Post said Maduro should not be put on trial for drug trafficking, while a further 36 percent were unsure, leaving 50 percent supporting the prosecution.
In the Reuters/Ipsos poll, conducted between January 4 and 5 among 1,248 people, Trump's approval rating was at 42 percent - the highest since October. Voters overall were split on the actions in Venezuela, with 33 percent of adults approving of the U.S. military's actions against 34 percent disapproving.
Again, Republicans showed far more support for the president's moves, at 65 percent, compared to the same percentage of Democrats who disapproved. Voters were also asked if the U.S. should dominate the Western Hemisphere, with 43 percent of Republicans agreeing.
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What People Are Saying
Matt Wylie, political strategist, told Newsweek on Monday: "Electorally, this creates real problems for Republicans. Trump’s lack of transparency is shredding what little trust voters still have. At the same time, the very coalition that put Trump in office is starting to fracture. That coalition has already been tested with the Epstein files debacle.
"Many of his supporters backed Trump precisely because he promised not to drag America into foreign conflicts. That promise is now broken. This latest move pours gasoline on a smoldering fire. The result is a party headed into critical elections with a divided base, collapsing credibility, and a crisis entirely of its own making."
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, said Sunday on NBC News' Meet the Press: "This is the same Washington playbook that we are so sick and tired of that doesn’t serve the American people, but actually serves the big corporations, the banks, and the oil executives. I want to see domestic policy be the priority that helps Americans afford life after four disastrous years of the Biden administration."
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, wrote on X: "As the affordability crisis spirals out of control and people’s health care costs skyrocket, this administration’s actions in Venezuela make one thing clear: Donald Trump is the least ‘America First’ POTUS in our country’s history."
**Vice President JD Vance wrote on X on Saturday: "**The president offered multiple off ramps, but was very clear throughout this process: the drug trafficking must stop, and the stolen oil must be returned to the United States. Maduro is the newest person to find out that President Trump means what he says. Kudos to our brave special operators who pulled off a truly impressive operation."
What Happens Next
The president’s approval rating has seen a steady decline since early last year, per multiple polls. In the coming days and weeks, voters will likely be closely watching Trump’s actions in Venezuela and elsewhere to see whether he delivers for Americans.
Update 1/5/26, 3:14 p.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from Matt Wylie.
Update 1/5/26, 4:18 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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