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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. Thereās 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 MarĆa Corina Machado āpresentedā President Donald Trump with her 2025 Nobel Peace Prize medal as āa recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom.ā 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 nationās 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 Statesā acquisition of the territory āvitalā 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 Statesā global role has diminished, and Trumpās economic approval numbers.
When it comes to congressional approval being required,Ā 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 Statesā global standing. While most respondents (57%-43% overall) linked Trumpās 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 Trumpās foreign policy approval rating has dipped from 41% in July 2025 polling to its current 37% level.
Domestically, Trumpās 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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12 Comments
The presentation of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize medal to President Donald Trump by Venezuelan opposition leader MarĆa Corina Machado is a significant gesture, but I’m not sure it will have a lasting impact on the situation in Venezuela, considering the complexities of the conflict.
I’m concerned about the 69% of Americans who oppose US military involvement in Greenland, as it seems like a strategic location that could be important for national security, but I understand the desire to avoid entanglement in foreign conflicts.
The US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife has significant implications for the region, and I’m interested to see how this will play out in terms of US involvement in Venezuela’s oil reserves and the ongoing protests in the country.
The US has a history of intervening in foreign conflicts, and I think it’s time for a more nuanced approach, considering the opinions of the American people, as reflected in this poll, and the potential consequences of military action in countries like Venezuela, Iran, and Cuba.
I’m surprised that more than 8-in-10 Democrats and more than 6-in-10 independents voice opposition to US military action, while Republicans are largely in favor of it, and I wonder what’s driving this partisan divide on foreign policy.
The protests against the current Iranian regime are a complex issue, and I think the US needs to be careful in how it navigates this situation, considering the recent sanctions on Iranian officials accused of suppressing free speech.
The fact that nearly 7 in 10 Americans oppose US military involvement in Greenland is a clear indication that the public is wary of getting involved in foreign conflicts, and I think this is a prudent approach, given the potential risks and consequences.
I’m not sure I understand why the US is considering military action in Mexico, given the 60%-38% margin of opposition, and I think this is an area where diplomacy and cooperation would be more effective than military intervention.
The margin of opposition to US military action in Cuba, at 61%-37%, is notable, and I think it’s because many Americans are skeptical of getting involved in another country’s internal affairs, especially given the history between the US and Cuba.
The fact that 57% of Americans strongly oppose or oppose military action in Iran is not surprising, given the current tensions and protests against the Iranian regime, but I’m curious to see how the US will navigate this situation.
The 56% of Americans who oppose US military intervention in Venezuela is a significant majority, and it’s interesting to see how opinions are divided along party lines, with 83% of Republicans supporting intervention.
I’m not surprised by the partisan divide, but I do wonder what would happen if the US were to intervene in Venezuela, considering the current political climate.