Key Takeaways
- The US has seized control of Venezuela and ousted its leader, Nicolás Maduro, with President Donald Trump warning that Cuba is on the verge of collapsing next and threatening military intervention in Colombia.
- Trump’s foreign policy, dubbed the "Donroe Doctrine," has raised concerns that he is prioritizing oil and American imperialism over the economic concerns of US citizens.
- A new poll found that only one in three Americans approve of the US military strike on Venezuela, with 72% worrying that the US will become too involved in the country.
- Democrats are seizing on the issue to bolster their affordability case, arguing that Trump is distracted by foreign interventions and not doing enough to address the economic struggles of Americans.
- Trump’s approval rating stands at 36%, with 57% of Americans disapproving of his handling of the economy.
Introduction to the Situation
The United States’ seizure of control of Venezuela and ouster of its leader, Nicolás Maduro, has sparked concerns that President Donald Trump is prioritizing foreign policy over the economic concerns of US citizens. Despite Trump’s claims that the US will "run" Venezuela and tap the country’s vast oil supply, many Americans are worried that the country is becoming too entangled in foreign affairs. The White House has argued that the military’s operation demonstrated the power of the US abroad, but Democrats are using the issue to bolster their affordability case, arguing that Trump is distracted by foreign interventions and not doing enough to address the economic struggles of Americans.
The Donroe Doctrine
Trump’s foreign policy, dubbed the "Donroe Doctrine," has raised concerns that he is prioritizing oil and American imperialism over the economic concerns of US citizens. The doctrine is a rebranding of the early 19th century’s Monroe Doctrine, and Trump has warned that Cuba is on the verge of collapsing next and threatened military intervention in Colombia. Trump has also renewed his call for the US to seize Greenland, which is part of Denmark. This has led to concerns that Trump is getting distracted by foreign policy and not focusing enough on the economic struggles of Americans.
American Public Opinion
A new poll from Reuters/Ipsos found that only one in three Americans approve of the US military strike on Venezuela, with 72% worrying that the US will become too involved in the country. Just 23% of independent voters, a critical voting block, said they support the action in Venezuela. This has led to concerns that Trump’s foreign policy is out of touch with the concerns of Americans, who are more focused on the economy and cost of living. Democrats are seizing on the issue, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries saying that "the American people reject the possibility of another unjustified foreign war that seems to be on the horizon because of Trump’s desire to reward Big Oil in the United States of America – while continuing to not do a damn thing to make life better for the American people."
Economic Concerns
The economy remains a top concern for Americans, with a PBS News/NPR/Marist poll last month finding that 57% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy. Trump’s approval rating stands at 36%, with only 24% of Americans saying they are satisfied with the state of the economy. Democrats are using the issue to bolster their affordability case, arguing that Trump is distracted by foreign interventions and not doing enough to address the economic struggles of Americans. Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, said that "the American public does not want their boys and girls from Florida, from Nebraska, from Arizona to go fight for Big Oil. That’s not what the last election was about."
Democratic Response
Democrats are using the issue to bolster their affordability case, arguing that Trump is distracted by foreign interventions and not doing enough to address the economic struggles of Americans. Former Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown quickly seized on Trump’s attack on Venezuela in his campaign to return to the Senate, saying that "hundreds of thousands of Ohioans are struggling to make ends meet, yet Washington continues to make their lives harder while prioritizing foreign countries before our own." Democrats used affordability as their underlying campaign message en route to overperforming in special House elections across the country in 2025 and producing double-digit wins in the off-year gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia.
Trump’s Response
Trump has argued that seizing Venezuelan oil is critical for American interests, saying that "we want to surround ourselves with energy. We have tremendous energy in that country. It’s very important that we protect it. We need that for ourselves. We need that for the world." Trump has also touted a record-high stock market, strengthening 401(k) retirement plans, and his efforts to bring down the price of drugs through a new "most favored nation" policy. However, it remains to be seen whether most Americans will agree with him on Venezuela, with many expressing concerns that he is prioritizing foreign policy over the economic concerns of US citizens.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the US seizure of control of Venezuela and ouster of its leader, Nicolás Maduro, has sparked concerns that President Donald Trump is prioritizing foreign policy over the economic concerns of US citizens. While Trump has argued that seizing Venezuelan oil is critical for American interests, many Americans are worried that the country is becoming too entangled in foreign affairs. Democrats are using the issue to bolster their affordability case, arguing that Trump is distracted by foreign interventions and not doing enough to address the economic struggles of Americans. As the 2026 midterm elections approach, it remains to be seen whether Trump’s foreign policy will be a winning issue for him, or whether Democrats will be able to capitalize on the concerns of Americans and take control of the House and Senate.