This week, CNN’s senior analyst Harry Enten shared good news for President Trump, based on post-Maduro raid polling numbers; approval numbers are “way up.”
Enten highlighted a CNN poll showing U.S. support for the military ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro rising from 21% pre-operation (January 3, 2026) to 37% post-operation, a 16-point jump, reflecting perceived success amid a U.S. special forces raid that captured Maduro without leaving troops behind.
“It’s been a dramatic change in a direction that I think the President of the United States will like because what are we looking at here? Okay, US military ousting Maduro. Pre-ousting… What you saw was a clear plurality of Americans opposed at 47%. Just 21% support!” Enten said.
“Come over to this side on screen after the ousting. Look at that. The support through the roof now. We’re talking about 37%, well within margin of error right here of opposition 38%. It turns out Americans like what they deem to be successful foreign policy operations. And in this case they view the ousting of Maduro, at least up to this point, as a success one. And therefore, the support way up.”
“Americans like success,” Enten reiterated.
Watch the clip below:
Trump has to like the dramatic change in the polls on Maduro's ouster. Support for it is through the roof (up 16 pts) vs. pre-ouster.
We saw a similar rise in support over time for the Iran strikes in mid-2025.
Americans like what they deem as successful military operations. pic.twitter.com/ITTETJR6L0
— (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) January 6, 2026
The Maduro raid showcased U.S. military might by executing an audacious overnight operation in Caracas — including strikes on military installations — then capturing Maduro and rapidly moving him via an offshore U.S. Navy ship and flight to New York for prosecution.
