A new Harvard CAPS/Harris poll shows overwhelming bipartisan support for Trump drug boat strikes, with 71 percent of Americans—including a majority of Democrats—backing U.S. military operations that destroy drug-smuggling vessels in international waters.
The poll found that 89 percent of Republicans, 67 percent of Independents, and 56 percent of Democrats approve of the Trump administration’s lethal strikes on cartel-run boats smuggling narcotics from South America. The findings highlight a rare moment of national unity behind one of President Donald Trump’s most aggressive anti-cartel policies.
According to U.S. officials, the military has destroyed at least four drug-smuggling boats off the coast of Venezuela since early September, killing more than 20 traffickers. “A boat loaded with enough drugs to kill 25 TO 50 THOUSAND PEOPLE was stopped, early this morning off the Coast of Venezuela, from entering American Territory,” Trump announced on Truth Social.
In a memo to Congress, the administration said the United States is now “in a non-international armed conflict” with drug cartels, which the State Department recently labeled as “foreign terrorist organizations.”
The poll also found that a majority of Americans support other key Trump initiatives—78 percent back deporting illegal immigrants who have committed crimes, and 86 percent support lowering prescription drug prices for seniors and low-income patients.
The results signal that Trump’s tough-on-crime agenda—particularly his decisive action against drug cartels—resonates strongly with voters across the political spectrum.
