A significant majority of American voters are against the idea of the United States taking military action inside Venezuela, according to a new national poll released this week. The survey highlights deep political divisions on the issue as the U.S. maintains a substantial naval presence in the Caribbean.
Poll Numbers Reveal Strong Opposition
The Quinnipiac University poll, conducted from December 11 to 15, 2025, found that 63 percent of registered voters oppose U.S. military action in Venezuela. In contrast, only 25 percent of those interviewed expressed support for such operations.
The opposition cuts across party lines but is most pronounced among Democrats. The poll details that 89 percent of Democrats are against military action, followed by 68 percent of independents. Even among Republicans, traditionally more supportive of military intervention, 33 percent are opposed, while 52 percent approve.
Caribbean Operations and Rising Tensions
The poll was released amid an ongoing U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean Sea, much of it stationed near Venezuela's coast. The Pentagon states the mission is to combat drug trafficking. However, these operations, which include strikes on alleged drug boats, have proven controversial.
More than half of poll respondents, 53 percent, said they oppose these maritime strikes. Since September, these actions have resulted in the deaths of at least 95 people aboard vessels in international waters in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.
Venezuela's government, led by President Nicolas Maduro, has consistently denounced the U.S. presence. Caracas claims the anti-drug trafficking rationale is a thinly veiled attempt to bring about regime change. This view finds sympathy among some U.S. lawmakers, including bipartisan critics in Congress who have questioned the legality and true motives behind the strikes for months.
Trump Administration Ramps Up Pressure
The military posture is part of a broader pressure campaign against the Maduro government. On Tuesday, December 16, U.S. President Donald Trump announced he had ordered a total blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela.
Furthermore, President Trump has indicated in recent weeks that the U.S. military would soon expand its campaign. He has repeatedly stated that land strikes targeting drug traffickers in the Caribbean region could begin very soon.
The Quinnipiac poll surveyed 1,035 self-identified registered voters across the United States and carries a margin of error of approximately 3.9 percentage points. The results suggest that further escalation of military action may lack broad public support at home.
