Public Opinion and U.S. 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.