As many as 63 percent of U.S. voters said they oppose U.S. military action inside Venezuela, according to a new poll released Wednesday.
Only 25 percent of the interviewed said they support such military operations, a Quinnipiac University poll found.
More than half of the poll responders, 53 percent, also said they oppose the Pentagon's strikes on alleged drug boats which have killed at least 99 people aboard in international waters in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific since September.
For almost four months, the United States has maintained a significant military presence in the Caribbean, much of it off Venezuela's coast, purportedly to combat drug trafficking -- a claim Venezuela has denounced as a thinly veiled attempt to bring about regime change in Caracas.
On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump said he had ordered a total blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers going into and out of Venezuela, stepping up a months-long pressure campaign against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Amid continuous boat strikes, Trump also repeatedly said in recent weeks that the U.S. military would begin land strikes targeting drug traffickers in the Caribbean country "very soon."
The Quinnipiac poll asked 1,035 self-identified registered voters across the United States from Dec. 11 to 15, with a margin of error of around 3.9 percentage points.
Over 60 pct of US voters oppose US military action inside Venezuela: poll
The China Media Group (CMG) on Thursday unveiled a set of four vibrant mascots for its 2026 Spring Festival Gala, one of the premier television events on China's entertainment calendar, heralding the upcoming Year of the Horse with wishes of vitality and ambition.
The Chinese lunar year for 2026 is the Year of the Horse and will begin on February 17, 2026.
Horse is one of the most dynamic and spirited in the 12-animal Chinese zodiac cycle, representing strength, perseverance, and unstoppable momentum.
The four mascots take their names from the Chinese expression -- "Qi Ji Chi Cheng" -- meaning "Galloping steed, Onward unstoppable", which is also the theme of the upcoming gala.
Inspired by classic representations of horses across different periods of Chinese history, the mascots are adorned with classic elements of traditional Chinese clouds and thunder.
The design is a reflection of the spirit of renewal and progress in the new year.
Qiqi, a dark-colored horse, features a vigorous posture, fully embodying the forward-looking and ambitious spirit.
Jiji, a horse spreading wings to soar through the clouds in pursuit of the sun, represents a spirit of striving and upward momentum.
Chichi has a tied-up tail, fully displaying a demeanor of confidence and composure.
The image of Chengcheng was inspired by Przewalski's horse. As the only surviving wild horse species on Earth, it is known as a "living genetic fossil" with a 60-million-year evolutionary history.
Being robust and agile, Chengcheng showcases the harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature.
The Spring Festival Gala, or Chunwan, hosted by CMG has been an essential part of Chinese New Year celebrations since 1983, featuring an elaborate mix of performances such as songs, dances, comic sketches, traditional operas, and folk arts.
The annual spectacle, known as the most-watched television program in the world, is broadcast on the eve of the Chinese New Year, when families come together to ring in the new lunar year.
This year's Spring Festival Eve will meet global viewers on Feb 16, 2026.
China Media Group unveils mascots for 2026 Spring Festival Gala
