A clear majority of Americans approve of President Barack Obama's decision to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba, a new poll has found.
According to a
Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll, 60 percent of adults surveyed from Jan. 14-17 said they approved of Obama's announcement to resume relations with Havana, and the results hold across regional, age, and racial demographic groups.
The approval numbers are highest among young people. Specifically, 66 percent of those 18- to 34-years-old approve, as do 65 percent of black and Hispanic voters, both strong constituencies for Obama. And those who live in the Northeast support it by 68 percent while those in the West give a 66 percent approval rate.
"The results mark a dramatic change in public opinion on normalized relations with Cuba over the past 40 years. When NBC News and the Associated Press asked about the possibility of diplomatic recognition of Cuba in August 1978, 54 percent said they would disapprove of such a move, while only 31 percent said they would approve,"
NBC News said.
The Obama administration last month announced plans to restore diplomatic and economic ties with Cuba. This includes the relaxation of travel and banking restrictions. The White House also plans to open an American embassy in Havana.
The poll also found that the level of approval of the policy diverges according to party affiliation.
Democrats are far more likely to support it than Republicans. Seventy-seven percent of Democrats approve of the move, while just 17 percent disagree.
Meanwhile, just 41 percent of Republicans support restoring relations with Cuba, compared to 48 percent who disapprove.
Independents mirror the overall split, with 61 percent approving and 30 percent disapproving, NBC said.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.