WASHINGTON β More than half of U.S. adults believe President Donald Trump has "gone too far" in using the U.S. military to intervene in other countries, according to a new AP-NORC poll.
The poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research was conducted Jan. 8-11, after Venezuelan President NicolΓ‘s Maduro's capture. It found that 56% of U.S. adults think Trump has overstepped on military interventions abroad, while majorities disapprove of how the Republican president is handling foreign policy in general and Venezuela in particular.
President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with oil executives in the East Room of the White House on Jan. 9 in Washington, as Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio listen.
The findings largely cut against Trump's aggressive foreign policy stance, which has recently included efforts to exert control over Venezuelan oil, calls for the U.S. to take over Greenland and warnings that the U.S. would provide aid to people protesting in Iran. Many did see the Trump administration's recent intervention in Venezuela as a "good thing" for stopping the flow of illegal drugs into the U.S. and a benefit for the Venezuelan people, but fewer say it's a positive for U.S. national security or the U.S. economy.
Republicans are mostly following Trump's lead, despite the sharp contrast with the "America First" platform he ran on. But few Republicans want Trump to go further, underscoring the risks of a continued focus abroad.
Most Republicans say Trump's actions have been 'about right'
While the U.S. used its military power in Venezuela to capture Maduro, Trump has also made recent comments about seizing Greenland "the hard way" if Denmark's leaders do not agree to a deal for the U.S. to take it over, and he has warned Iran that the U.S. will come to the "rescue" of peaceful protesters.
Democrats and independents are driving the belief that Trump has overstepped. About 9 in 10 Democrats and roughly 6 in 10 independents say Trump has "gone too far" on military intervention, compared with about 2 in 10 Republicans.
The vast majority of Republicans, 71%, say Trump's actions have been "about right," and only about 1 in 10 want to see him go further.
About 6 in 10 Americans, 57%, disapprove of how Trump is handling the situation in Venezuela, which is slightly lower than the 61% who disapprove of his approach to foreign policy. Both measures are in line with his overall job approval, which has largely remained steady throughout his second term.
Many say the US action in Venezuela will be good for halting drug trafficking
Many Americans see some benefits from U.S. intervention in Venezuela.
About half of Americans believe the U.S. intervening in Venezuela will be "mostly a good thing" for halting the flow of illegal drugs into the country. Close to 4 in 10, 44%, believe the U.S. actions will do more to benefit than harm the Venezuelan people, who lived under Maduro's dictatorship for more than a decade. But U.S. adults are divided on whether intervention will be good or bad for U.S. economic and national security interests or if it simply won't have an impact.
Republicans are more likely than Democrats and independents to see benefits to the U.S. action, particularly its effects on drug trafficking. About 8 in 10 Republicans say America's intervention will be "mostly a good thing" for stopping the flow of illegal drugs into the country, but fewer Republicans, about 6 in 10, believe it will benefit the U.S. economy.
Democrats and independents drive desire for US to take a 'less active' role
Most Americans don't want greater U.S. involvement in world affairs, the poll found. Nearly half of Americans want the U.S. to take a "less active" role, and about one-third say its current role is "about right."
Only about 2 in 10 U.S. adults say they want the country to be more involved globally, including about 1 in 10 Republicans.
At least half of Democrats and independents now want the U.S. to do less, a sharp shift from a few months ago.
Republicans, meanwhile, have grown more likely to indicate that Trump's level of involvement is right. About 6 in 10 Republicans, 64%, say the country's current role in world affairs is "about right," which is up slightly from 55% in September. About one-quarter of Republicans say the U.S. needs to take a "less active role" in solving problems around the globe, down slightly from 34% a few months ago.
Photos of Venezuela the day after US forces captured President NicolΓ‘s Maduro
Pro-government armed civilians attend a protest demanding the release of President Nicolas Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores, the day after U.S. forces captured and flew them to the United States, in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
A government supporters displays a U.S. flag in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
A government supporter holds an action figure of Super Bigote during a protest demanding the release of President Nicolas Maduro, who was captired by U.S. forces, in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
A government supporter holds a banner for President Nicolas Maduro during a protest demanding his release, after U.S. forces captured and flew him to the United States, in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
Government supporters demand President Nicolas Maduro's release from U.S. custody during a protest in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
A government supporter wears a hat with dolls from the TV program, Super Bigote, based on President Nicolas Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores, during a protest demanding their release from U.S. custody, in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
Jesus Linares, right, removes a painting of independence hero Simon Bolivar at his home, which he says was hit during U.S. military operations to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, in Catia La Mar, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Pedestrians stand in a square decorated with images of the eyes of former President Hugo Chavez in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
A woman buys eggs at a market in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
Pro-government armed civilians stop motorcyclists in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
Dressle Perez removes twisted metal from a damaged apartment complex that residents say was hit during U.S. strikes to capture Venezuelan President NicolΓ‘s Maduro, in Catia La Mar, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026.(AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A pedestrian walks past a mural of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A soldier stands atop an armored vehicle on the highway leading from the international airport toward Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Residents look at a damaged apartment complex that neighbors say was hit during U.S. strikes to capture Venezuelan President NicolΓ‘s Maduro, in Catia La Mar, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
