President Trump ordered a daring U.S. military raid on January 3, 2026, capturing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife in Caracas, marking a dramatic escalation in efforts to address Maduro's indicted drug trafficking charges and bring him to trial in New York.
Recent polls indicate a notable shift in American public opinion following the successful operation.
A Washington Post survey showed 40% of Americans approving the mission to capture Maduro, compared to just 25-30% support for hypothetical military action in pre-operation polls (e.g., Quinnipiac at 25%, CBS/YouGov at 30%). This represents roughly a +10 to +15 point increase overall.
Among Republicans, support surged more dramatically—from around 52-58% in prior polls to 74% post-operation, a gain of about +16 to +22 points.
🚨 NEW: CNN reports SURGE in support for what President Trump did to Maduro +25 POINTS among the American public
— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) January 6, 2026
"After the ousting, look! Support went THROUGH THE ROOF!" says pollster Harry Enten.
"It turns out, Americans like what they deem to be successful operations!" pic.twitter.com/SCHCcPc9TY
CNN highlighted this partisan rally effect, noting similarities to increased GOP backing after Trump's earlier strikes elsewhere.
However, no major poll, including those referenced by CNN, shows an overall +25 point surge across the American public.
Overall approval remains mixed: the Washington Post poll had 40% approve vs. 42% disapprove, while a Reuters/Ipsos survey found 33% approval with strong partisan divides (65% Republican support vs. low Democratic backing). Many Americans express concern about deeper U.S. involvement.
The operation's quick execution without U.S. casualties likely contributed to the opinion shift, particularly among Trump's base, though broader support for ongoing U.S. control of Venezuela remains limited. Maduro has pleaded not guilty, and the situation in Venezuela continues to evolve with acting leadership under Delcy Rodríguez.