A poll shows that 63% of French people condemn the US military operation in Venezuela, which led to the capture of Nicolás Maduro on January 3. Nearly seven in ten believe Emmanuel Macron was not up to the task, while 78% hold a negative view of Donald Trump. More than seven in ten French worry about dangerous consequences for world peace.
On January 3, US forces captured former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who had been in power since 2013 and is described as a brutal despot. This operation, ordered by Donald Trump, has drawn strong disapproval in France, according to a poll by Odoxa-Backbone for Le Figaro. Conducted online on January 7 and 8 among 1005 people, 63% of French respondents clearly oppose this intervention.
Donald Trump's image is further tarnished: 78% of those polled have an unfavorable opinion of the US president, up two points from November 2024. In a context of overt imperialism from the White House – including threats to annex Greenland or attack Bolivia – more than 70% of French people believe this action will have harmful repercussions on international stability.
Additionally, 59% of respondents see the operation as an attempt to destabilize Venezuela to control its vast oil resources. Emmanuel Macron faces criticism too: nearly seven in ten French say he was not "up to the events." This poll highlights French concerns over a US foreign policy seen as unapologetic.