Most Americans Oppose Possible U.S. Military Action in Venezuela and Want Clearer Explanations

A new national poll conducted Nov. 19–21, 2025, of 2,489 U.S. adults (margin of error ±2.4 points) finds broad skepticism about possible U.S. military action in Venezuela and strong public demand for clearer explanations from the White House.

Widespread Opposition and Calls for Clarity

Across party lines, large majorities say the administration needs to explain its intentions regarding any action in Venezuela and that it has not done so clearly. Most respondents view Venezuela as a minor threat rather than a major one to the United States, and overall potential military intervention receives broad disapproval — including a lack of overwhelming support among Republicans.

Congressional Approval and Public Awareness

About three in four Americans say the president would need congressional approval before initiating military action in Venezuela, a view shared by just over half of Republicans. Only one in five respondents say they have heard a lot about the reported U.S. military buildup — a sign that many feel the purpose of any deployment has not been clearly communicated.

Drug-Related Operations and Public Opinion

The poll finds a split on current U.S. military strikes on boats suspected of carrying drugs: just over half of Americans approve, driven by near-universal support among Republicans. Nonetheless, respondents overwhelmingly say they should be shown evidence that the boats contain drugs, and most do not believe military action in Venezuela would materially reduce the flow of drugs into the United States.

Partisan and Intra-Party Differences

Within the president's GOP base, supporters aligned with the MAGA movement are more likely than non‑MAGA Republicans to back possible military action. That group is also more likely to say the president has explained his actions and to believe intervention would decrease drug trafficking. Many opponents, including some Republicans, view this through issue priorities: those who judge the president mainly on the economy are more likely to oppose military steps and to feel the administration is not spending enough time on economic matters.

Economy: Messaging vs. Lived Experience

Respondents report a disconnect between how the White House describes inflation and what they feel personally. Most say officials portray prices and inflation as better than citizens' real experiences, including roughly four in ten Republicans who feel the administration downplays inflation. Ratings for the overall economy are low and fell this week to their lowest level of 2025. A majority still say prices are generally rising, and a plurality feel the president's policies are increasing the cost of food and groceries ahead of the holiday season.

Those who primarily evaluate the president based on economic performance overwhelmingly say he is not spending enough time on inflation and the economy. This sentiment has pushed down his approval ratings on economic handling; more than two-thirds now disapprove of his handling of inflation. Among independents, ratings for the economy and the president's overall approval are also at yearly lows, contributing to a steady decline in overall approval during the current term.

Immigration, Deportations and Local Impact

The administration's deportation program remains divisive. Support is strongest among Republicans, while most people outside the GOP base say Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is detaining more people than necessary. Many respondents view the deportation program as harming rather than helping the economy; about one-third — particularly residents of cities and suburbs — say the program has harmed their communities and made people more likely to stay home.

Epstein Files: Public Interest and Expectations

Americans across party lines say it is important that files related to the Epstein case be released. Most expect those records will contain damaging information about powerful individuals, and while many believe it is too early to judge the claims fully, more people expect the information to be true than false. Republicans report increased satisfaction with the administration's handling of the issue compared with the summer, and most GOP supporters say the files do not significantly affect how they evaluate the president. Independents and Democrats give the files more weight when assessing leadership.

Methodology

This poll surveyed a nationally representative sample of 2,489 U.S. adults from November 19–21, 2025. The sample was weighted by gender, age, race, and education to match U.S. Census benchmarks and 2024 presidential vote. The margin of sampling error is ±2.4 percentage points.