Republicans sour on Trump's military buildup near Venezuela
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President Trump delivers a speech in front of US Navy personnel on Oct. 28, 2025. Photo: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images.
The number of Republicans who approve of President Trump assembling the military off the coast of Venezuela fell by 10 percent over the past month, according to a new survey analysis from YouGov.
Why it matters: While most Republicans still back the military show of force, the falling approval comes at a time when some Republican lawmakers have questioned Trump's claim that he has unilateral power to conduct lethal strikes on boats allegedly smuggling drugs into America.
Catch up quick: The U.S. has killed at least 57 people in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean in recent months, with little to no oversight.
- A large number of warships, drones, bombers and Marines have assembled off the Venezuelan coast, and Trump recently confirmed that the CIA is conducting covert operations targeting drug cartels in the country.
- Some foreign policy experts have speculated that the president may intend to eventually topple leader Nicolás Maduro, who has a $50 million bounty on his head for his alleged involvement in drug trafficking.
- After the U.S announced it would conduct joint military training with Venezuelan neighbor Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela's vice president claimed the exercises were "aimed at provoking a war" in the Caribbean.
By the numbers: YouGov found that 58% of Republicans support the U.S. military presence outside Venezuela's borders now, compared to 68% in September.
- However, only 28% of Republicans would support invading the country's mainland with 38% opposed.
- That's still far fewer than the amount of Democrats (73%) and independents (55%) who oppose an invasion.
The intrigue: The Miami Herald reported Friday that the administration has identified several military installations on Venezuelan soil with plans to strike.
- When questioned by reporters about the veracity of the Herald's reporting while aboard Air Force One Friday, the president denied the reports with little elaboration.
What they're saying: Secretary of State Marco Rubio mocked the Herald's reporting in a post on X on Friday.
- "Your 'sources' claiming to have 'knowledge of the situation' tricked you into writing a fake story," he said.
- A Pentagon spokesperson told Axios in an emailed statement: "Our troops are putting their lives on the line to defend the American people from narco-terrorists."
- The State Department referred Axios to Rubio's X post.
Methodology: YouGov compiled their survey results based off two surveys of adult citizens. One was conducted among 1,109 people from October 17 - 22, and the other surveyed 1,086 people from October 24 - 28. The margin of error is approximately 4%.
Go deeper: Trump's Venezuela operation expands in the dark
Editor's note: This story has been updated with comment from the Pentagon.
