The following is from Rasmussen Reports.

Nearly half of likely US voters say they approve of the US seizing oil shipments from Venezuela, according to a new Rasmussen Reports survey conducted before the recent raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

The survey finds that 48% of likely US voters approve of the US seizing Venezuelan oil tankers, including 29% who strongly approve. Forty percent disapprove, including 27% who strongly disapprove, while 12% say they are not sure.

Voters were also asked about a statement from President Donald Trump defending the seizures. In the statement, Trump said Venezuela took US energy rights and oil and that the US wants it back. A majority of voters, 54%, say they agree with that statement, including 31% who strongly agree. Thirty-six percent disagree, and 10% are not sure.

The poll also asked what should be done with the oil seized from the Venezuelan tankers. Thirty-eight percent say it should be added to the US strategic petroleum reserve. Twenty-one percent say the oil should be sold and the money sent to the US Treasury. Twenty percent say it should be sold to compensate US oil companies for property seized by Venezuela. Twenty-two percent say they are not sure.

Opinions differ sharply by political affiliation. Seventy-six percent of Republicans say they at least somewhat approve of the US seizing the oil tankers, compared with 31% of Democrats and 37% of voters not affiliated with either major party. Eighty-two percent of Republicans at least somewhat agree with Trump’s statement about US oil rights in Venezuela, compared with 34% of Democrats and 47% of unaffiliated voters.

The survey of 1,111 likely US voters was conducted December 28–30, 2025, by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.

To view survey question wording, click here.