Several Republicans interviewed about their assessment of the operation that captured Venezuela's authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro said they approve of it because it projects U.S. power abroad, according to a new report.
Early polling suggests the sentiment is widespread within the party despite reservations voiced by some prominent figures aligned with Trump. One conducted by Reuters/Ipsos showed that 65% of Republican respondents approved of the operation, and just 6% disapproved.
Moreover, The New York Times interviewed a series of Republican voters who said that the raid aligned with their preference for decisive action that avoids extended foreign entanglements. Several described the operation as consistent with an "America First" approach that prioritizes national security without nation-building.
The voters interviewed drew a distinction between the Venezuela operation and earlier U.S. military interventions, particularly the Iraq war. They emphasized that the United States did not occupy the country or commit ground troops on a large scale, arguing that this limits Washington's responsibility for Venezuela's political future.
They emphasized the absence of civilian casualties and the speed of the operation shaped their support, even among those who were initially uncertain.
Despite the support, foreign policy ranked low among voters' immediate concerns, trailing issues such as inflation and the economy. Still, respondents said the raid improved perceptions of U.S. strength abroad.
The approval does not extend to the broader political spectrum. Another poll conducted by CBS News and YouGov showed that seven in ten Americans believe the Trump administration has not clearly explained its plans regarding the South American Country.
The survey also showed that a little more than half of people surveyed (52%) disapproves of the military action conducted to remove Nicolas Maduro from power this past weekend.
Moreover, less than four in ten people (37%) say the goal the administration is pursuing involves stopping gangs and terrorists from entering the U.S. 38% believe it's about stopping drugs from entering the country, and just over half (51%) claimed it's about expanding U.S. power in the region. In contrast, 59% claimed the goal involves getting access to Venezuela's oil.
Asked if they would approve of the actions if they sought access to the country's oil, less than a third of respondents (32%) approve of it, with the figure climbing to 88% if it was about stopping drugs from entering the U.S.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has told reporters that the administration envisions a three-part process of stabilization, recovery and transition in Venezuela.
Rubio told reporters the first phase would involve what he described as a "quarantine," including continued seizures of sanctioned oil and the sale of up to 30 to 50 million barrels on the open market.
The proceeds, he said, would be controlled by the United States and distributed in ways intended to benefit Venezuelans rather than former regime figures. A second phase would focus on reopening the Venezuelan market and rebuilding civil society, while details of a political transition remain undefined.
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