The Democratic Party is experiencing deepening internal divisions as it criticizes President Donald Trump's operation to arrest Nicolás Maduro, while also acknowledging the Venezuelan leader's history as a brutal dictator.

A new Washington Post poll indicates that a majority of Americans support bringing Maduro to justice. The survey found that 50% of respondents favored a trial for the former de facto leader of Venezuela, who has been indicted in the U.S. on drug trafficking charges, while only 14% opposed it.

Among Democratic supporters, the opposition rate was a mere 24%, revealing discomfort with the party's handling of the operation, which unfolded last Saturday.

This tension was evident when CNN interviewed Representative Maggie Goodlander (D-NH).

When asked if it was a positive development that Maduro is no longer in power, Goodlander characterized him as a dictator but evaded a direct answer, pivoting to unrelated talk about America's 250th anniversary. Her response contrasts not only with Republicans but also with polling data showing broad public support for the action.

Axios reported this week that vulnerable Democratic lawmakers are growing increasingly frustrated with the party leadership's mixed messaging.

While Democratic politicians generally push back against the Trump administration's unilateral execution of military operations in Venezuela, bypassing Congress, the administration maintains that this is not an act of war but an operation to arrest a drug trafficker and international terrorist group affiliate.

However, they are hinting at the difficulty of incorporating Maduro's arrest into an unconditional anti-Trump narrative. This is due to concerns that outright Trump criticism might alienate Hispanic voters in the U.S. and cause them to turn away from the Democratic Party.

One lawmaker, speaking anonymously to Axios, stated, "Maduro is a bad guy. I'm glad he's out of power... You can't have it both ways," adding that reflexive opposition to Trump carries the risk of alienating voters.

Another centrist Democrat described the response as "weak," warning that failing to acknowledge a clear national security achievement undermines credibility.

This division highlights a larger challenge for Democrats as President Trump's foreign policy actions garner support from both parties' bases. Newsmax reports that this presents the party with a situation where it must balance its anti-Trump base with a political reality that seemingly doesn't tolerate outright opposition.

By NNP Chief Editor Hong Seong-gu / Special Correspondent NNP info@newsandpost.com