Live updates: Live updates: Senate Republicans vote down Venezuela war powers resolution

Democrats forced the vote after U.S. troops captured former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a surprise nighttime raid earlier this month.

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Senate Republicans sideline a proposal to limit Trump’s ability to strike Venezuela militarily

Republican senators stood by Trump’s desire to have no restraints in Venezuela. But they needed Vice President JD Vance to break a 50-50 tie.

Sens. Josh Hawley of Missouri and Todd Young of Indiana flipped on a procedural vote after joining Democrats and three other Republicans last week to advance the proposal.

Trump pressured Republicans and made clear he wouldn’t sign the resolution.

Democrats pushed the resolution after U.S. troops captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in a raid earlier this month.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the debate is “anti-Trump hysteria.” Republican Sen. Rand Paul, who voted with Democrats, said it recognized lawmakers’ constitutional authority to declare war.

“If we don’t know it’s a war until after all the people die ... wouldn’t it then be a little late?” Paul said, calling it “an absurdity” to argue Trump hasn’t already taken actions of war.

Republican Sen. Todd Young flips in Trump’s favor on war powers vote

Young voted with Republicans to sideline the Democratic-sponsored resolution.

His vote could be enough to block the resolution for now. Votes are still being tallied.

The senator said in a statement he’s still skeptical about U.S. involvement in Venezuela but “has received assurances that there are no American troops in Venezuela” and that if Trump were to decide in favor of “major military operations” he would ask Congress “in advance for an authorization of force.”

Senators supporting the resolution questioned that logic during debate.

Sen. Rand Paul, a Republican who withstood Trump’s pressure to flip, said the president’s blockade, boat strikes and capture of Maduro already amount to wartime hostilities.

Bipartisan Senate group backs Greenland and Denmark amid Trump’s threats

The group reinforced their support for Greenland on Wednesday after meeting with leaders from Denmark and its self-governing territory.

The senators pushed back on Trump’s threats to try and take over the country, saying after the meeting that any action could upend NATO and play into the hands of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Republican Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who has introduced legislation to try and block any U.S. action in Greenland, said it was “stunning” to her that they were even discussing the matter.

“We are operating in times where we are having conversations about things that we never even thought possible,” Murkowski said.

Independent Sen. Angus King, of Maine, said it is “nonsense” to say that the U.S. needs to control Greenland to protect national security.

Republican leaders move to dismiss war powers resolution

Republican Senate leaders are trying to defuse the conflict between their members and Trump as well as move on quickly to other business. They’re moving to dismiss the measure under the argument that it is irrelevant to the current situation in Venezuela.

In a floor speech Wednesday morning, Senate Majority Leader John Thune vented his frustration as he questioned whether this war powers resolution should be prioritized under the chamber’s rules.

“We have no troops on the ground in Venezuela. We’re not currently conducting military operations there,” the Republican from South Dakota said. “But Democrats are taking up this bill because their anti-Trump hysteria knows no bounds.”

Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine accused Republicans of burying a debate about the merits of an ongoing campaign of attacks and threats against Venezuela.

At least one Republican reconsiders the resolution

Sen. Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican who helped advance the war powers resolution last week, has indicated he may change his position.

Hawley said Trump’s message during a phone call last week was that the legislation “really ties my hands.” The senator said he had a follow-up phone call with Secretary of State Marco Rubio that was “really positive.”

Hawley said he received reassurances from Rubio that “we’re not going to do ground troops” in Venezuela and that the Trump administration will follow constitutional requirements if it becomes necessary to deploy troops.

Of the other Republicans who advanced the legislation, Sen. Susan Collins told reporters Wednesday she will still support it. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Rand Paul have also indicated they won’t switch.

That leaves Sen. Todd Young with the crucial vote. He declined repeatedly to discuss his position but said he was “giving it some thought” Wednesday.

Trump’s ‘Department of War’ rebrand could cost up to $125 million

A Congressional Budget Office analysis released Wednesday estimates a modest implementation of the change could cost taxpayers about $10 million, but a broad and rapid change could reach $125 million.

Trump signed an executive order in September that authorized the Department of War as a secondary title for the Pentagon.

Congress has to formally approve a new name for the department. It has shown no serious interest in doing so.

▶ Read more about what it would cost to rebrand the department

Trump signs 2 executive orders

Before talking protests in Iran and whole milk, Trump signed two executive orders on tariffs.

The president said one order would impost a 25% tariff on imported semiconductors that are not used domestically.

He said China wanted to sell semiconductors that way, adding, “We’re going to be making 25% on the sale of those chips, basically. So, we’re allowing them to do it. But the United States is getting 25% of the chips in terms of the dollar value.”

The second order Trump signed dealt with tariffs being imposed on critical minerals.

Trump signs law returning whole milk to school meals

Trump signed a bill Wednesday that returns whole milk to school cafeterias across the country.

The new law overturns Obama-era limits on higher-fat milk options that aimed to reduce obesity and disease. It allows schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to serve whole and 2% milk along with the skim and low-fat products required since 2012.

It could take effect in some schools by fall.

The move comes days after the Trump administration’s release of new Dietary Guidelines for Americans that emphasize consumption of full-fat dairy products. Previous editions said that people over age 2 should eat low-fat or fat-free dairy.

Trump suggests killings in Iran ‘have stopped’ — without providing details

Trump says he’s been told “on good authority” that plans for executions in Iran have stopped, even as Tehran has signaled fast trials and executions ahead in its crackdown on protesters.

The president’s claims, which came with few details, follow his repeatedly telling protesting Iranians in that “help is on the way” and suggesting that his administration would “act accordingly” to respond to the Iranian government.

Trump had nonetheless not said how the U.S. might respond in Iran. It wasn’t immediately clear if his comments indicated he planned to hold off on action in Iran entirely.

“We’ve been told that the killing in Iran is stopping — it’s stopped — it’s stopping,” the president said. “And there’s no plan for executions, or an execution, or executions — so I’ve been told that on good authority.”

Trump abruptly moves from talking Iranian executions to praising a ‘whole milk’ measure

The president opened an appearance in the Oval Office by claiming the killing of Iran protesters ‘has stopped’ even as Tehran has signaled fast trials and executions ahead.

Trump referenced the killing of protesters taking to the street stopping, and said suggested that executions associated with the protests could too.

With lawmakers from both parties and even some children present, Trump then turned to the activity he’d planned to concentrate on -- signing into law legislation allowing schools nationwide to offer whole or 2% milk.

It overturned previous restrictions that mandated serving fat-free or low-fat milk.

The signing followed the Trump administration recently released new national dietary guidelines that featured an inverted pyramid with protein, dairy, healthy fats and fruits and vegetables at the top and whole grains at the bottom.

“We have some milk here,” Trump said, pointing to milk on the Resolute Desk, joking that it’d been sitting there for five days waiting for the event.

House Democrats seek information from New York universities on Epstein’s tuition payments

Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee are asking the leaders of Columbia University and New York University for information on tuition payments that Jeffrey Epstein made on behalf of young women, including some who were minors.

Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the committee, said that his staff had received reports from survivors that Epstein “repeatedly lured young women into his network by promising to help them gain admission into colleges and universities.”

The request showed how Democrats are expanding their investigation into Epstein as they try to uncover how the late financier used his wealth and connections to coerce and abuse teenage girls. They are also seeking testimony from Epstein’s longtime lawyer and accountant who now control his estate.

Laid-off researchers at workplace safety center are being reinstated

Federal officials are reinstating hundreds of U.S. health workers who were laid off last year from a small U.S. health agency that aims to protect workers.

Last April, the Trump administration gutted the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Agency scientists, engineers and others conduct research and recommend ways to prevent work-related injury, illness, disability and death.

Government officials laid off close to 900 of NIOSH’s 1,000 employees. Some were brought back last year after legal challenges and political pressure.

But union officials said Wednesday that all the terminations are being rescinded. A U.S. Department of Health and Human Services spokesman confirmed that but didn’t explain why.

Denmark is ready to ‘explore what is doable’ on Greenland, even amid disagreements with the US

Leaders from Denmark and Greenland say they don’t agree with Trump on the U.S. controlling the island, but are ready to work toward common ground.

“It is in everybody’s interest — even though we disagree — that we agree to try to explore whether it is doable to accommodate some of the concerns while at the same time respecting the integrity of the Danish kingdom’s territory and the self-determination of the Greenlandic people,” Løkke Rasmussen said.

Following the discussions with Vance and Rubio, Løkke Rasmussen, said, “Even though our view on the situation right now around Greenland differs from public statements in the U.S., we share the concerns in the longtime perspective.”

Trump and Mamdani become unexpected pen pals

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani says he’s been texting with Trump, establishing a line of communication with the Republican who once called him a “total nut job.”

Though, Mamdani said his latest reach out to the president — over Trump’s threat to withhold money from states with sanctuary cities — hasn’t yet elicited a response.

“Whenever I reach out to the president or the president reaches out to me, I always make the case for our city,” Mamdani told reporters Wednesday, saying he and Trump have “exchanged a handful of text messages.”

Earlier this month, after the U.S. military removed former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and he was brought to New York to stand trial, Mamdani said he called Trump to “register my opposition.”

The ongoing conversations came after a surprisingly chummy Oval Office meeting last year.

Denmark and Greenland to continue dialogue with U.S. despite ‘fundamental disagreement’

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said Denmark and Greenland will continue the dialogue with the U.S. despite a “fundamental disagreement” about the future of the Arctic island.

“We have decided to form a high-level working group to explore if we can find a common way forward,” Rasmussen said during a press conference following his and his Greenlandic’s counterpart meeting with Vance and Rubio in Washington D.C. on Wednesday.

“The group, in our view, should focus on how to address the American security concerns, while at the same time respecting the red lines of the Kingdom of Denmark.”

The minister said the working group would meet for the first time “within a matter of weeks.”

Venezuela’s acting president vows to continue releasing prisoners detained under Maduro

Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez on Wednesday vowed to continue releasing prisoners detained under former President Nicolás Maduro during her first press conference since Maduro was ousted by the United States earlier this month.

Rodríguez served as Maduro’s vice president since 2018, running Venezuela’s feared intelligence service and managing its crucial oil industry. A 56-year-old lawyer and politician, Rodríguez was sworn in as interim president two days after the Trump administration snatched Maduro from his fortified compound and claimed the U.S. would be calling the shots in Venezuela.

Addressing journalists from a podium at the presidential palace, Rodríguez said the process of releasing prisoners had begun under Maduro and “has not yet concluded.”

“That process remains open,” she said, adding that the releases sent a message that Venezuela was opening “to a new political moment.”

▶ Read more about Venezuela prisoner release

Sen. Susan Collins says she’ll continue to support war powers resolution

The Maine Republican is one of five GOP senators whom Trump is trying to pressure to change their vote Wednesday on a war powers resolution that would require congressional approval before any further attacks on Venezuela.

Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, who voted to advance the legislation last week, has indicated he may vote to dismiss the measure. Meanwhile, Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska have both indicated they are also sticking to their votes in favor.

That likely leaves Sen. Todd Young, an Indiana Republican, with the crucial vote. He has repeatedly declined to discuss his position, saying he was “giving it some thought.”

Voto Latino supports articles of impeachment against Secretary Noem, urges constituents to demand support from elected officials

Voto Latino leaders announced their full support for the three articles of impeachment introduced by Rep. Robin Kelly to remove Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

“The impeachment articles brought forward by Representative Kelly today have been a long time coming,” Voto Latino leaders said in a statement. “Since taking office Secretary Kristi Noem has operated without restraint or accountability. Secretary Kristi Noem has used her cabinet position to benefit herself at the expense of the American people — regardless of immigration status.”

Along with their support, Voto Latino leaders are launching a digital campaign in Republican led districts, aimed at pressuring members of Congress to support the impeachment efforts. The digital campaign urges constituents in the districts to contact their representative and demand support for the impeachment efforts.

Vast majority of voters oppose taking Greenland using military force, new poll finds

About 9 in 10 registered voters oppose the U.S. trying to take Greenland by military force, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll, while only 9% are in favor.

Buying Greenland is still not broadly popular, but voters are more divided about an acquisition involving money. Just over half, 55%, of voters oppose the U.S. trying to buy Greenland, while 37% are in favor.

Republican voters, in particular, are much keener on the idea of an attempt to buy Greenland, rather than a military invasion. About two-thirds of Republican voters oppose trying to take Greenland by military force.

On the other hand, a similar percentage of Republican voters support an attempt to buy Greenland.

Democrats launch long shot impeachment effort to remove Noem

Rep. Robin Kelly of Illinois says she has introduced three articles of impeachment to remove Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem from office and that she has support from almost 70 Democrats so far.

A growing number of Democrats are calling for Noem’s impeachment in the wake of the killing of a Minnesota woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer, though the effort stands little chance in a Republican-controlled House and Senate.

Kelly said in a press conference Wednesday announcing her resolution that “real people are being hurt and killed” from ICE enforcement actions. She was joined by 10 other Democrats at the event who voiced frustration and anger with the Trump administration’s deportation efforts – many focused on their districts.

“If we do nothing, nothing will happen,” Kelly said.

It’s unclear when Kelly may seek to force a vote on her resolution.

Rep. Angie Craig, who represents a swing district in Minnesota, said ICE actions “have crossed a line.”

“Minnesotans, we want safe and secure borders. We want violent criminals to not be in our country. But this is not what we signed up for.”

US to suspend immigrant visa processing from 75 countries whose nationals are deemed likely to require public assistance

The State Department will suspend the processing of immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries whose nationals are deemed likely to require public assistance while living in the United States.

The State Department said Wednesday that it had instructed consular officers to halt immigrant visa applications from the countries affected in accordance with a broader order issued in November that tightened rules around potential immigrants who might become “public charges” in the U.S. The suspension will begin Jan. 21 and will not apply to applicants seeking non-immigrant, or temporary tourist or business visas.

“The Trump administration is bringing an end to the abuse of America’s immigration system by those who would extract wealth from the American people,” the department said in a statement. “Immigrant visa processing from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassess immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits.”

The statement did not identify which countries would be affected by the pause, but the administration has already severely restricted immigrant and non-immigrant visa processing for citizens of dozens of countries, many of them in Africa.

Trump envoy says Gaza is entering second phase of ceasefire plan

Trump envoy Steve Witkoff said in a post on the social platform X that the ceasefire deal was entering a phase focused on demilitarizing Gaza, establishing a technocratic government and reconstruction.

Witkoff did not offer any details Wednesday about the new transitional Palestinian administration that would govern Gaza.

The White House did not immediately offer any details, either. Witkoff said that the U.S. expects Hamas to immediately return the final deceased hostage as part of its obligations under the deal.

Vance and Rubio’s meeting with Denmark, Greenland officials has ended

Denmark’s Rasmussen and Greenland’s Motzfeldt were spotted exiting the Eisenhower Executive Office Building about an hour after the talks started.

The two foreign ministers are scheduled to head to Capitol Hill later in the day for talks on Capitol Hill.

Landry says he wants to meet Greenlanders and not diplomats

While Trump says he will take action on Greenland whether its people “like it or not,” his new handpicked U.S. special envoy is setting off on his own approach.

Republican Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, who was appointed as U.S. special envoy to Greenland in December, has not visited the Arctic island but plans to attend a dogsled race there in March. He has suggested Greenlanders would feel right at home in Louisiana, saying he heard they like to hunt, fish and “have a good time.”

Landry has brought his thick Cajun accent and reputation for confrontational politics to the effort to acquire the world’s largest island, elevating his national profile on a mission that has showcased his ties to the president and rattled partners in the military alliance.

‘Escalation in the Arctic must be avoided,’ Russian ambassador says

“Russia does not harbor aggressive plans toward its Arctic neighbors, does not threaten them with military action, and does not seek to seize their territory,” Russia’s ambassador to Copenhagen, Vladimir Barbin, told TV2, according to a statement published on social media by the Russian Embassy in Denmark.

“To successfully develop its Arctic potential, Russia is interested in stability and good relations between the states in the Arctic region,” he said. “Disputes and disagreements between Arctic states should be resolved in accordance with international law and through negotiations. Escalation in the Arctic must be avoided. It is necessary to restore broad international cooperation in the Arctic, which is capable of ensuring security more reliably and at lower cost than the unchecked drive by NATO countries to militarize the region.”

Foreign ministers meeting at the White House is underway

Denmark’s Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Greenland’s Vivian Motzfeldt are now at the White House campus for their high-stakes meeting with Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Ahead of their arrival, the office of Greenland Representation to the U.S. and Canada pushed back against Trump’s continued insistence that the Arctic territory become part of the United States.

“Why don’t you ask us, kalaallit?” the office said in a social media post, referring to the island’s indigenous Inuit people. The office noted that polling showed a vast majority of Kalaallit and Greenlanders oppose joining the United States.

Senate majority leader criticizes Venezuela war powers vote

Republican Sen. John Thune of South Dakota is venting some of his frustration in a Senate floor speech, sharply criticizing a war powers resolution vote that would require Trump to get congressional approval before carrying out further attacks on Venezuela.

The president has been hurling insults at five Senate Republicans who voted to advance the measure last week, and Republican Senate leaders were looking for ways to defuse the conflict, including possibly challenging whether the war powers resolution should be prioritized under chamber rules.

“We have no troops on the ground in Venezuela. We’re not currently conducting military operations there,” Thune said. “But Democrats are taking up this bill because their anti-Trump hysteria knows no bounds.”

Republican leaders could move to dismiss the measure under the argument that it is irrelevant to the current situation, but that procedure would still receive a vote.

The Trump administration moves closer to permitting sales of Nvidia’s H200 chips to China

The Trump administration is easing the review process to allow U.S. chip company Nvidia to sell advanced chips such as H200 and its equivalents to China. The move is a reversal from the Biden administration’s policy to restrict China’s access to advanced chips when the two countries are locked in a tech rivalry.

A rule by the Bureau of Industry and Security at the Department of Commerce this week says it would no longer presume denial on exports of H200 chips to China but conduct a case-by-case review on criteria such as whether the needs of U.S. users have been sufficiently met and if security concerns are addressed. The change has raised concerns among U.S. lawmakers, who are worried it could boost China’s computing powers, which are crucial in developing artificial intelligence capabilities.

It’s unclear if China would allow the imports of H200 chips, as it pursues self-sufficiency in high technology.

Hillary Rodham Clinton defies House subpoena for testimony

The Democratic former secretary of state did not show up for a scheduled deposition by the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday morning despite threats from Republicans to hold her and former President Bill Clinton in contempt of Congress.

The Clintons released a letter this week to Rep. James Comer, the committee chair, explaining that they see the attempt to force their testimonies in the committee’s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein as “legally invalid” and biased against them. Bill Clinton also did not show up for a scheduled deposition Tuesday morning.

Comer is planning to initiate contempt of Congress proceedings against the Clintons next week.

The clash showed how House Republicans are using the powers of the oversight panel to focus on high-profile Democrats who are associated with Epstein, a financier and convicted sex offender who killed himself in 2019.

Schumer tells the AP that Democrats are preparing for Trump to disrupt the midterms

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says he expects Trump to try to interfere with the midterm elections, and he says raids by immigration agents in major cities are creating a sense of chaos that voters will reject in November.

The comments were part of a wide-ranging, 20-minute Associated Press telephone interview with the New York Democrat, who argued former Alaska Rep. Mary Peltola’s entry into the Senate race gives his party a path to the majority.

Schumer said economic concerns have begun to cement in the minds of voters and that Democrats have plans to build their campaign around the costs, chaos and corruption they attribute to the Trump administration.

The White House has called such Democratic statements “fearmongering” to score political points.

▶ Read more from AP’s interview with Schumer

Democrats see a path to win the Senate. It’s narrow and has little room for error

Senate Democratic leaders believe they have a path to winning the majority in November, though it’s one with very little wiggle room.

The party got a new burst of confidence when former Rep. Mary Peltola announced Monday she’ll run for the Senate in Alaska. Her bid gives Democrats a critical fourth candidate with statewide recognition in states where Republican senators are seeking reelection this year. Nationally, Democrats must net four seats to edge Republicans out of the majority.

That possibility looked all but impossible at the start of last year. And while the outlook has somewhat improved as 2026 begins, Democrats still almost certainly must sweep those four seats.

First, they must settle some contentious primaries, the mark of a party still struggling with its way forward after Republicans took full control of Washington in 2024. Importantly, they must also beat back challenges to incumbents in some of the most competitive states on the map.

▶ Read more about what Democrats are facing

The Trump administration is investigating Sen. Slotkin for Democrats’ video to troops

Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin has been notified that the Trump administration is investigating her after she organized and appeared in a video with other Democrats urging military service members to resist “illegal orders.”

Slotkin, a former CIA analyst, first disclosed to The New York Times that prosecutors were investigating her. A person with knowledge of the situation who was not authorized to speak about it publicly confirmed the matter to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Slotkin, who organized the 90-second video and first posted it on her X account in November, learned this month of the inquiry from the office of U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, the Justice Department’s chief prosecutor in the nation’s capital. Pirro’s office did not immediately respond Wednesday to messages seeking comment.

▶ Read more about the inquiry

FACT FOCUS: Trump repeats false claims when discussing Greenland’s security in the Arctic

Trump has made an American takeover of Greenland a focus of his second term in the White House, calling it a national security priority while repeating false claims about the strategic Arctic island.

In recent comments, he has floated using military force as an option to take control of Greenland. He has said that if the U.S. does not acquire the island, which is a self-governing territory of NATO ally Denmark, then it will fall into Chinese or Russian hands.

▶ Take a closer look at the facts

China’s trade surplus surges 20% to a record $1.2 trillion, even with Trump’s tariffs

China’s trade surplus surged to a record of almost $1.2 trillion in 2025, the government said Wednesday, as exports to other countries made up for slowing shipments to the U.S. under Trump’s onslaught of higher tariffs.

China’s exports rose 5.5% for the whole of last year to $3.77 trillion, customs data showed, as Chinese automakers and other manufacturers expanded into markets across the globe. Imports flatlined at $2.58 trillion. The 2024 trade surplus was over $992 billion.

In December, China’s exports climbed 6.6% from the year before in dollar terms, better than economists’ estimates and higher than November’s 5.9% year-on-year increase. Imports in December were up 5.7% year-on-year, compared to November’s 1.9%.

▶ Read more about how economists expect exports to impact China’s economy

From Minneapolis to Venezuela, Trump piles up risks as he faces midterm verdict

It’s only two weeks into the new year, and Trump has already claimed control of Venezuela, escalated threats to seize Greenland and flooded American streets with masked immigration agents. That’s not even counting an unprecedented criminal investigation at the Federal Reserve, a cornerstone of the national economy that Trump wants to bend to his will.

Even for a president who thrives on chaos, Trump is generating a stunning level of turmoil as voters prepare to deliver their verdict on his leadership in midterm elections that will determine control of Congress.

Each decision carries tremendous risks, from the possibility of an overseas quagmire to undermining the country’s financial system, but Trump has barreled forward with a ferocity rattling even some of his Republican allies.

“The presidency has gone rogue,” said historian Joanne B. Freeman, a Yale University professor.

▶ Read more about the turmoil Trump is creating ahead of this year’s votes

Most Americans don’t want greater US involvement in world affairs

Nearly half of Americans — 45% — want the U.S. to take a “less active” role in solving the world’s problems, the new AP-NORC poll found.

About one-third say its current role is “about right,” and only about 2 in 10 U.S. adults say they want the country to be more involved globally.

Democrats and independents are driving the desire for the U.S. to take a “less active” role. At least half of them now want the U.S. to do less, a sharp shift from a few months ago.

Republicans, meanwhile, have grown more likely to indicate that Trump’s level of involvement is right. About 6 in 10 Republicans — 64% — say the country’s current role in world affairs is “about right,” which is up slightly from 55% from September.

▶ Read more about the poll’s findings

Many Americans see some benefits from US intervention in Venezuela

About half of Americans believe the U.S. intervening in Venezuela will be “mostly a good thing” for halting the flow of illegal drugs into the country, according to a new AP-NORC poll.

And 44% believe the U.S. actions will do more to benefit than harm the Venezuelan people. But U.S. adults are divided on whether intervention will be good or bad for U.S. economic and national security interests, or if it simply won’t have an impact.

Republicans are more likely than Democrats and independents to see benefits to the U.S. action, particularly its effects on drug trafficking. About 8 in 10 Republicans say America’s intervention will be “mostly a good thing” for stopping the flow of illegal drugs into the country.

Most say Trump has ‘gone too far’ on military interventions abroad

Most U.S. adults — 56% — say Trump has “gone too far” in using the U.S. military to intervene in other countries, according to a new AP-NORC poll conducted from Jan. 8-11, after former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s capture.

Democrats and independents are driving the belief that Trump has overstepped. About 9 in 10 Democrats and roughly 6 in 10 independents say Trump has “gone too far” on military intervention, compared with about 2 in 10 Republicans.

The vast majority of Republicans — 71% — say Trump’s actions have been “about right,” and only about 1 in 10 want to see him go further.

Trump says anything less than having Greenland in the United States’ hands is ‘unacceptable’

Trump said Wednesday that anything less than U.S. control of Greenland is “unacceptable,” hours before Vice President JD Vance was to host Danish and Greenlandic officials for talks.

In a post on his social media site, Trump reiterated his argument that the U.S. “needs Greenland for the purpose of National Security.” He added that “NATO should be leading the way for us to get it” and that otherwise Russia or China would.

“NATO becomes far more formidable and effective with Greenland in the hands of the UNITED STATES,” Trump wrote. “Anything less than that is unacceptable.”

Greenland is at the center of a geopolitical storm as Trump is insisting he wants to own the island, and the residents of its capital, Nuuk, say it is not for sale. The White House has not ruled out taking the Arctic island by force.

▶ Read more about Trump’s comments