A new CNN poll conducted by SSRS shows that about 75% of Americans oppose attempts by the United States to take control of Greenland, signaling strong public opposition to President Donald Trump’s push to expand American influence in foreign territories. Only 25% of respondents said they supported such a move, according to the survey.
Deep partisan divisions – especially in Greenland
The poll found that the nation’s partisan divide is stark on the Greenland issue: Republicans and Republican-leaning independents were split roughly 50-50, while Democrats and independents were overwhelmingly opposed to US efforts to take control of the Danish territory, with 94% saying they were opposed and 80% strongly opposed.
President Trump has publicly pushed the idea of greater US influence in Greenland, telling supporters that “anything less” than US control is “unacceptable”.
Perspectives on US Military Power and Global Role
The poll suggests broader public skepticism about US foreign policy. Nearly six in 10 Americans said they fear Trump has gone too far in trying to extend American power overseas, the analysis found.
More than half — 55% — say the president has already gone too far in using the U.S. military to achieve his goals, and 57% believe his foreign policy decisions have hurt America’s standing in the world, compared to the beginning of last year.
Mixed views on Venezuela’s intervention
When it comes to US military action in Venezuela, the poll found that the public is more evenly split: 52% oppose the decision to take military action, while 48% are in favor. A broader question about US efforts to influence Venezuela’s government after the ouster of Nicolas Maduro showed 58% opposed such control, with strong opposition (31%) outweighing strong support (13%).
The poll also found that most Americans do not expect the US intervention to lead to a stable Venezuelan government within a year, and about two-thirds think a long-term involvement of US troops is likely.
What Americans see as motives for intervention
When asked about the reasons for U.S. actions in Venezuela, respondents more often cited U.S. access to Venezuelan oil and a show of U.S. military power than the government’s goals of bringing Maduro to justice or curbing drug smuggling. Only 26% said improving the lives of Venezuelans was the main factor.
Survey methodology
The CNN poll was conducted online and by telephone from January 9-12, 2026 among a nationally representative sample of 1,209 adults.
