Name: Americans divided on Maduros capture, fresh CBS News polling shows
Uploaded: 2026-01-08T01:15:54.543Z
Duration: 2 min 30 s
Description: CBS News polling shows Americans are divided on the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. CBS News executive director of elections and surveys, Anthony Salvanto, reports.

CBS News polling shows Americans are divided on the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. CBS News executive director of elections and surveys, Anthony Salvanto, reports.

New York

The U.S has launched strikes on sites inside Venezuela, including military facilities and arrested Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro along wife his wife.

Venezuela Strikes

A recent CBS News poll shows that Americans are nearly evenly divided on the US military's removal of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, with 48% approving and 52% disapproving of the action. The survey also highlights widespread uncertainty about the Trump administration's plans for Venezuela, as 70% of respondents feel the objectives have not been clearly explained.

The poll further reveals that perceptions of the US's motives—such as access to oil or stopping drugs—strongly influence approval rates. While Republicans, especially those identifying with the MAGA movement, show strong support for the action, most Americans prefer that the US have little or no control in Venezuela moving forward.

Americans divided on Maduro's capture, fresh CBS News polling shows

New CBS News polling just in shows Americans are divided on the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro 48% say they approve of US military action to remove him from power 52% disapprove Overall, there's some uncertainty about what happens next 70% say the Trump administration has not clearly explained its plans for Venezuela Now that Maduro has been removed CBS News executive director of elections and surveys Anthony Salvato joins us now So walk us through what do people think about this? So I pick up on that point when people don't feel like the administration has clearly explained the goals We ask them What do you think the goals are and there's almost six and ten Americans who think it's a lot about getting access to oil There are comparably fewer but a lot of Republicans and that's an important point say it's about stopping drugs from entering the u.s Or stopping gangs or terrorists now What's important about this is we show you the breakdown of how people approve or disapprove? Based on what they think is a lot of those is the goal is a lot about access to oil more disapproving They think it's a lot about stopping drugs more approving. So that's how how people view the goals Impacts whether they approve or not. What about how this could impact the MAGA base? Okay, so we've had a lot of discussions We've heard a lot of discussions about the Republican base about what happens with overseas, you know Incidents or military action, etc but start with this big support among Republicans for the action more so than it depends a lot more than Democrats if I dive in a little more and look at MAGA Republicans in particular Overwhelming support for this now. Why is that one? They call it a military success? That's number one But the other part of this is if I go and look at what they believe Removing Maduro from power does to the u.s. Position in the world you see these big numbers of eight and ten who say it makes the u.s Stronger and they really stand out among the partisan breaks for that view So that perception of making the u.s. Stronger is one of the things that drives their overwhelming support for it Let's what do people say they want to see next? Well, there's a mixed collectively mixed about what the u.s. Should do mint next and what they think is going to happen But let me show you this how much control do people think want the u.s They want to do is to have in Venezuela You see the preponderance here not much or none and that going back to the top Relates to whether they approve or disapprove of the initial action what they think this is going to happen going forward Anthony's not to always appreciate you. Thank you

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Ukraine Invasion

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Americans divided on Maduro's capture, fresh CBS News polling shows

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Venezuela Strikes