WASHINGTON (AP) — There are few signs that President Donald Trump’s supporters wanted the United States to become more involved in foreign conflicts ahead of his military action in Venezuela — even as many Republicans show initial support for his military strike there, according to an Associated Press analysis of recent polling.
Most Americans wanted the U.S. government to focus in 2026 on domestic issues such as health care and high costs rather than foreign policy issues, an AP-NORC poll found last month. Meanwhile, polls taken immediately after the military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro suggested that many Americans are not convinced that the US should intervene to take control of the country.
And despite Trump’s suggestion that the U.S. could have a more expansive role in the Western Hemisphere, Republicans in last fall’s poll remained generally opposed to the U.S. becoming more involved in the affairs of other countries.
There is still room for public opinion to shift as the Trump administration clarifies its next steps for Venezuela. But it could be a challenging issue for the Republican president, especially given Americans’ desire for the government to solve economic problems at home.
Foreign policy and the drug trade were not high priorities for many Americans
Heading into the new year, Americans were less likely to want the government to focus on foreign policy than they had been in recent years.
About a quarter of American adults listed foreign policy topics — such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Israel or overall foreign engagement — as something they wanted the government to prioritize in 2026, according to an open-ended AP-NORC question that asked respondents to share up to five issues they’d like the government to work on in the coming year. That was down from the previous two years, when about a third of Americans considered foreign affairs an important issue. Almost no one named Venezuela specifically.
Maduro pleaded not guilty to federal drug-trafficking charges Monday in New York. His capture followed US strikes on boats the Trump administration said were carrying drugs from Venezuela to the US. Few Americans cited the drug problem as a priority, and it was primarily a Republican issue. About 1 in 10 Republicans mentioned it, compared to almost no Democrats or independents.
Instead, Americans generally focused more on domestic issues — including health care, economic worries and cost-of-living concerns — as top priorities for government.
More Americans say the US should not rule Venezuela
Americans are split on the US capture of Maduro — with many still forming their opinions — according to a poll by The Washington Post and SSRS using text messages over the weekend. About 4 in 10 approved of the US military being sent to capture Maduro, while about the same proportion opposed. About 2 in 10 were unsure. Republicans largely approved of the action, while Democrats largely opposed it.
Nearly half of Americans, 45%, opposed the US taking control of Venezuela and electing a new government for the country. About 9 in 10 Americans said the Venezuelan people should decide their country’s future leadership.
In December, a Quinnipiac poll found that about 6 in 10 registered voters opposed U.S. military action in Venezuela. Republicans were more divided: About half supported, while about a third opposed and 15% had no opinion.
Few Republicans wanted the US to get more involved in world affairs
Only about 1 in 10 Republicans wanted the U.S. to take a “more active” role in solving the world’s problems, according to a September AP-NORC poll. He was much less likely than Americans overall, or Democrats and independents, to say the U.S. should get more involved. A majority of Republicans, 55 percent, said the current US role in global affairs is “about right.”
It could be a difficult position for a president who ran on a promise to put “America first” and end the country’s involvement in “forever wars.” About 7 in 10 voters who backed Trump in the 2024 presidential election said they want the U.S. to take a “less active” role in solving the world’s problems, according to AP VoteCast, an interview survey of registered voters in all 50 states.
In December, Americans were largely divided on whether Trump would keep his “America First” campaign promise, according to a Fox News poll. About half felt they kept that promise, and a similar proportion felt they abandoned it.
But at least in that poll, which was conducted before the military operation that ousted Maduro, Trump’s supporters were still largely behind him: About 1 in 10 Americans who voted for Trump in 2024 felt he abandoned his “America First” promise, while an overwhelming majority felt he kept it.