Venezuelans Grow Increasingly Skeptical of U.S. Role in Democratic Transition, New Poll Finds

Rescuers and volunteers gather atop the rubble of collapsed buildings as a Venezuelan flag flutters above them in Caraballeda, La Guaira, Venezuela, on July 3, 2026. (Credit: Via Getty Images)

Public opinion in Venezuela is shifting as many citizens grow increasingly skeptical of the United States' role in the country's post-Maduro transition, according to new polling highlighted by POLITICO. While many Venezuelans remain grateful for the hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. humanitarian assistance following June's devastating earthquakes, confidence in Washington's political strategy appears to be eroding.

The survey, conducted in July by pollster Megan Barrett and cited by the Wall Street Journal, found that Secretary of State Marco Rubio's approval rating among Venezuelans has fallen by 15 percentage points since February. At the same time, acting President Delcy Rodríguez now faces roughly a 90% disapproval rating, reflecting widespread dissatisfaction with her government's handling of the country's political transition and response to the earthquake disaster.