A majority of Americans oppose U.S. military intervention in Venezuela and Greenland, along with other nations, according to a new poll.
The latest Marist Poll published Friday shows varied opinions on the role of the U.S. abroad based mainly on political partisanship, with the majority of Democratic and independent voters discouraging a U.S. military presence in Venezuela, Greenland, Iran, Cuba and Mexico while most Republican voters are in favor.
Roughly 56% of survey respondents either strongly oppose or oppose the U.S. taking military action in Venezuela, while 43% either strongly support or support such action.
Opposition grows when respondents were asked about Greenland, where nearly seven in 10 Americans (69%) either strongly oppose or oppose U.S. military involvement in the country. Just 29% either strongly support or support a U.S. military footprint in the semi-autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark.
When it comes to Iran, 57% strongly oppose or oppose military action while 42% either strongly support or support it. There’s a margin of opposition of 61%-37% when asked about Cuba, with more in opposition, and similar results when asked about Mexico (60%-38%).
Results fell along party lines. More than 8-in-10 Democrats and more than 6-in-10 independents voice opposition to U.S. military action with numbers nearly flipped for Republicans, who favor U.S. military operations in Venezuela (83%), Iran (75%), Mexico (74%), Cuba (71%) and Greenland (57%).
The national survey of 1,408 adults aged 18 years and older was conducted via phone, text and online between Jan. 12-13. It has a margin of error of +/- 3.3.%.
Busy Few Weeks
All eyes remain on the Trump administration, which last week captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
On Friday, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado “presented” President Donald Trump with her 2025 Nobel Peace Prize medal as “a recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom.” The U.S. has been heavily involved there for months, notably due to attacking alleged narco-traffickers amid new efforts to have a stake in the nation’s oil reserves.
Protests against the current Iranian regime continue in the Middle East, though have reportedly been subdued in the past couple days due to national officials ordering countless arrests of demonstrators and Iranian state media flushing out outside opposition. The U.S. recently announced new sanctions on Iranian officials accused of suppressing free speech.
Greenland remains a hot-button issue, for both the Trump administration as well as adversaries like China and Russia. Trump has called the United States’ acquisition of the territory “vital” and is supported by Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, among others who assert that the territory has important national security implications.
US Global Standing, Trump’s Economy
The survey also delved into whether Congress should approve military action in foreign countries, if and how the United States’ global role has diminished, and Trump’s economic approval numbers.
When it comes to congressional approval being required, 70% of Americans told Marist that should be the standard while 29% said the opposite. Most Democrats (91%), 78% of independents, and 36% of Republicans said the U.S. should not engage in military operations without consulting Congress. But 62% of Republicans said Congress does not need to approve such action.
A war powers resolution in the U.S. Senate requiring congressional approval over military action was voted down by the Republican majority earlier this week.
Partisanship remains on display when asked about the United States’ global standing. While most respondents (57%-43% overall) linked Trump’s foreign policy decisions to a weakened U.S. global presence, the numbers are essentially identical politically.
About 90% of Democrats cited a weakened international role of the U.S. while 89% of Republicans said it has been strengthened. That is as Trump’s foreign policy approval rating has dipped from 41% in July 2025 polling to its current 37% level.
Domestically, Trump’s economic approval ratings are still at major lows. Roughly 36% of Americans approve of his economic handling and 57% disapprove, and the 36% number remains unchanged from December 2025 polling.
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