Americans split on Maduro abduction as support drops for deeper US role in Venezuela

Americans are sharply divided over the US military operation that abducted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, with no clear majority backing the move and broad resistance to Washington taking control of the country or its resources, a new opinion poll shows.

According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Monday, 33 percent of Americans support Maduro’s abduction, while 34 percent oppose it and 32 percent say they are unsure, an unusually even split on a major foreign policy action.

Support breaks down sharply along party lines. Sixty-five percent of Republicans back the operation, compared with just 11 percent of Democrats and 23 percent of independents.

While opinions are divided on the raid itself, Americans lean more clearly against a prolonged US role in Venezuela. Forty-three percent oppose Washington governing the country until a new government is established in Caracas, compared with 34 percent who support the idea and 20 percent who remain undecided.

The poll also found resistance to a sustained military presence. Forty-seven percent of respondents oppose stationing US troops in Venezuela, compared with 30 percent who support it.

Control over Venezuela’s oil fields is even less popular. Forty-six percent oppose the Trump administration taking over the country’s energy assets, while 30 percent support such a move.

Concerns about escalation are widespread. Seventy-two percent of Americans said they are very or somewhat worried that the United States could become “too involved” in Venezuela.

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Washington would “run” Venezuela, although officials in his administration have since sought to downplay the prospect of an occupation. On Sunday, Trump warned of further military action if Venezuela “doesn’t behave”.

Maduro, who was seized by US special forces over the weekend, appeared in a US federal court in New York on Monday to face charges related to “narcoterrorism”, drug trafficking and weapons possession.

He pleaded not guilty to all counts, calling himself the victim of a kidnapping and describing himself as a “decent man”.

“I am still president of my country,” Maduro told the court through an interpreter.

Maduro, his wife Cilia Flores, his son Nicolás Ernesto Maduro Guerra, and three others face the possibility of life imprisonment if convicted.

In Caracas, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in on Monday as Venezuela’s interim president.

“I come with pain over the kidnapping of two heroes who are being held hostage: President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores,” Rodríguez said during a ceremony at the National Assembly.