AP–NORC Poll: 56% Say Trump Has Gone Too Far With Overseas Military Actions
An AP–NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll conducted Jan. 8–11, 2026 finds that 56% of U.S. adults believe President Donald Trump has 'gone too far' in using the U.S. military to intervene in other countries, following the U.S. operation that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. About 57% disapprove of Trump’s handling of Venezuela and 61% disapprove of his overall foreign policy, levels roughly aligned with his broader job approval. The backlash is driven largely by Democrats and independents—around 9 in 10 Democrats and roughly 6 in 10 independents say he has overstepped—while 71% of Republicans say his actions abroad have been 'about right' and only about 1 in 10 want him to go further. Despite the skepticism, about half of Americans see the Venezuela intervention as 'mostly a good thing' for stopping illegal drugs and 44% think it will do more to benefit than harm Venezuelans, but the public is split on whether it helps U.S. national security or the U.S. economy. The findings highlight growing unease with Trump’s threats to seize Greenland 'the hard way' and his vows to 'rescue' protesters in Iran, underscoring political risk if he doubles down on an expansive military posture that cuts against his earlier 'America First' non‑interventionist branding.
📌 Key Facts
- AP–NORC poll surveyed U.S. adults January 8–11, 2026, after the U.S. military operation that captured Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela.
- 56% of respondents say Trump has 'gone too far' in using the U.S. military to intervene in other countries.
- Roughly 57% disapprove of his handling of Venezuela and 61% disapprove of his handling of foreign policy overall.
- About 9 in 10 Democrats and around 6 in 10 independents think he has overstepped, compared with about 2 in 10 Republicans.
- 71% of Republicans say his actions abroad are 'about right,' and only about 1 in 10 Republicans want him to go further.
- About half of Americans see the Venezuela intervention as 'mostly a good thing' for halting illegal drug flows, and 44% think it will do more to help than hurt Venezuelans.
📊 Relevant Data
Younger Americans (ages 18-29) are less likely to support an active U.S. role in world affairs, with only 39% saying it is extremely or very important, compared to 60% of those ages 65 and older.
Younger Americans tend to favor the US being less active in world affairs — Pew Research Center
The United States has engaged in nearly 400 military interventions abroad from 1776 to 2023, with over half occurring after 1950.
Foreign interventions by the United States — Wikipedia
Venezuela accounts for approximately 10 to 13 percent of cocaine trafficked to the United States annually, with estimates of 200 to 250 metric tons in 2020.
Is Venezuela Flooding the U.S. With Drugs? Here's What to Know. — The New York Times
The number of Venezuelan immigrants in the United States increased by 119% from 2019 to 2024, reaching an estimated 1.2 million, representing about 2% of the total Hispanic population in the U.S.
7 facts about Venezuelans in the US — Pew Research Center
Greenland's strategic importance to the U.S. stems from its location for monitoring Arctic routes and military bases established during World War II and the Cold War, with current value in natural resources and climate-related security.
Here's why Greenland is strategically important to the U.S. — National Geographic
In a 2025 poll, 60% of Americans opposed U.S. military involvement in a potential war with Iran, with opposition higher among Democrats (75%) and independents (62%) than Republicans (40%).
Poll: Majority of Americans Oppose US War on Iran, Including 53% of Trump Voters — Truthout
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