Here's who most Americans say should decide Venezuela's future
A person flutters a national flag in Caracas on January 3, 2026, after US forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. (Photo by Federico PARRA / AFP via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON - Americans appear wary of deeper U.S. involvement in Venezuela, even as many Republicans initially back President Donald Trump’s military strike there, according to recent polling reviewed by the Associated Press.
And despite Trump’s suggestion that the U.S. may take a more expansive role in the Western Hemisphere, Republicans in polling last fall remained broadly opposed to the U.S. getting more involved in other countries’ problems.
More Americans say the US should not run Venezuela
By the numbers:
Americans are split about the U.S. capturing Maduro — with many still forming opinions — according to a poll conducted by The Washington Post and SSRS using text messages over the weekend.
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About 4 in 10 approved of the U.S. military being sent to capture Maduro, while roughly the same share were opposed. About 2 in 10 were unsure. Republicans broadly approved of the action, while Democrats were largely opposed to it.
Maduro courtroom sketeches
Maduro and his wife pleaded not guilty to drug and weapons charges in a US court yesterday and chose not to immediately fight their detention. Take a look at some courtroom sketches from the hearing.
Nearly half of Americans, 45%, were opposed to the U.S. taking control of Venezuela and choosing a new government for the country.
About 9 in 10 Americans said that the Venezuelan people should be the ones to decide the future leadership of their country.
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In December, a Quinnipiac poll found that about 6 in 10 registered voters opposed U.S. military action in Venezuela. Republicans were more divided: About half were in support, while about one-third were opposed and 15% didn’t have an opinion.
Trump wants to ‘run’ Venezuela
The backstory:
Trump has made broad but vague assertions that the United States is going to "run" Venezuela after the ouster of Nicolás Maduro but has offered almost no details about how it will do so, raising questions among some lawmakers and former officials about the administration’s level of planning for the country after Maduro was gone.
Trump addresses Venezuela strike, maduro capture
President Trump says the US will now run Venezuela following large-scale strikes that lead to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife. The president addressed the nation hours after the strike confirming that Maduro will face charges in either Florida or New York.
Seemingly contradictory statements from Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have suggested at once that the U.S. now controls the levers of Venezuelan power or that the U.S. has no intention of assuming day-to-day governance and will allow Maduro’s subordinates to remain in leadership positions for now.
RELATED: What did Trump mean US will 'run' Venezuela? Rubio explains
If planning for the U.S. "to run" Venezuela existed prior to Maduro’s arrest and extradition to face federal drug charges, it was confined to a small group of Trump political allies, according to current U.S. officials, who note that Trump relies on a very small circle of advisers and has tossed aside much of the traditional decision-making apparatus.
These officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss their understanding of internal deliberations, said they were not aware of any preparations for either a military occupation or an interim civilian governing authority, which has been a priority for previous administrations when they contemplated going to war to oust a specific leader or government. The White House and the State Department’s press office did not return messages seeking comment.
Maduro appears in court, pleads not guilty
Dig deeper:
Maduro declared himself "the president of my country" as he protested his capture and pleaded not guilty Monday to federal drug trafficking charges that the Trump administration used to justify removing him from power in Venezuela.
RELATED: Nicolás Maduro pleads not guilty in NYC court
"I was captured," Maduro said in Spanish as translated by a courtroom interpreter before being cut off by the judge. Asked later for his plea to the charges, he stated: "I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man, the constitutional president of my country."
Top lawmakers speak after briefing on Venezuela operation
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) spoke to reporters shortly after Monday night's closed-door briefing with Trump administration officials and top lawmakers on the weekend operation in Venezuela.
A 25-page indictment accuses Maduro and others of working with drug cartels to facilitate the shipment of thousands of tons of cocaine into the U.S. They could face life in prison if convicted.
Among other things, the indictment accuses Maduro and his wife of ordering kidnappings, beatings and murders of those who owed them drug money or undermined their drug trafficking operation. That included the killing of a local drug boss in Caracas, the indictment said.
The Source: The Associated Press contributed to this report. The information in the story comes primarily from a review of multiple public opinion polls and reporting by major news organizations. This story was reported from Los Angeles.