New analysis of American public opinion suggests the recent U.S. military operation targeting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, lacks broad support among the domestic population. CNN's chief data analyst, Harry Enten, made this prediction on Monday, casting doubt on the political upside for the Trump administration.
Polling Reveals Deep Public Skepticism
Harry Enten stated he would be "really surprised" if the operation proved to be a positive for President Donald Trump. He based his assessment on Reuters/Ipsos polling conducted before the attack last weekend. That data showed 47% of Americans opposed ousting Maduro, with only 21% in favor. A significant 29% remained unsure.
Support was higher, though not overwhelming, within the President's own party. Among Republicans polled before the operation, 39% favored removing the Venezuelan leader.
Following the segment's airing, newer Reuters/Ipsos data became available. It indicated a shift, with 33% of Americans approving of the move to oust Maduro and 34% disapproving. This later poll showed a sharp partisan divide: 65% of Republicans favored it, while an identical 65% of Democrats did not.
Fleeting Public Interest and Historical Context
Enten further argued that public attention on military action in Venezuela is likely to be short-lived. He pointed to Google search trends, which showed searches for "Maduro" plummeting by 70% after a peak on Saturday, the day of the operation.
He provided striking historical context for this waning interest. At their peak, searches for Maduro were 74% lower than searches for Osama bin Laden following his death in Pakistan in 2011 during the Obama administration.
Minimal and Temporary Political Boost Expected
Drawing a parallel to the bin Laden event, Enten noted that operation provided "a little bit of a boost for Barack Obama... back then. But it was very much of a fleeting boost." The implication is that any potential polling improvement for Trump stemming from the Venezuela operation would be similarly minor and temporary, especially given the lower level of public engagement compared to a major event like the killing of the Al-Qaeda leader.
The analysis presents a challenging picture for the administration, suggesting the foreign policy move has not captured strong or sustained support from the American public and is viewed through a highly partisan lens.
