A new Morning Consult survey suggests a majority of Americans would be more likely to support U.S. military intervention in Venezuela after hearing claims that the country has become a hub for narcoterrorism with alleged ties to Iran and Hezbollah.
The poll, conducted Jan. 10–11, 2026, for the Council for Secure America, surveyed 2,202 U.S. adults and reported a ±2 percentage point margin of error. In the survey, 60% of respondents said learning about those alleged connections made them more likely to back military action, while 40% said it made them less likely.
Support was strongest among Hispanics, with 66% favoring intervention—matching the 66% recorded among men. The poll found 64% support among white respondents and 54% among women. Black respondents were less supportive, with 43% in favor and 57% opposed. Majorities across income brackets and across urban, suburban, and rural areas also leaned toward backing intervention.
Council for Secure America executive director Jennifer Sutton said the polling shows “strong American support for US engagement in Venezuela” in light of what she described as Iran’s involvement in the country’s energy sector and Hezbollah’s role in the criminal drug economy.
The results arrive amid broader debate following the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro earlier this month—an operation that other polling suggests Americans view more cautiously. A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted Jan. 4–5, 2026 (±3 percentage points) found that 33% of Americans approved of the military strike that removed Maduro, with sharp partisan splits: 65% of Republicans approved, compared with 11% of Democrats and 23% of independents.
That Reuters/Ipsos survey also found widespread concern about escalation, with 72% of Americans saying they worried the U.S. could become too deeply involved in Venezuela. Among Republicans, 54% still said they were concerned about over-involvement, while 60% supported sending troops to station in the country and 59% favored U.S. control of Venezuelan oil fields. Overall, 30% of Americans supported troop deployment.
Together, the two polls point to a key divide: support appears higher when respondents are presented with specific security-based claims, but broader sentiment remains wary of long-term entanglement and the potential costs of a deeper military role.
