The government of U.S. President Donald Trump is determined to overthrow Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

To do that, the United States has launched an intimidation and pressure campaign, seizing oil tankers — its economic lifeline — threatening covert action and hinting that an invasion is in the works.

The administration has offered many explanations for its behavior; underlying them all is Trump’s antipathy toward Maduro. It is not clear whether these actions are legal, whether there is a strategic rationale or if they would enjoy the support of the president’s backers, much less a majority of the U.S. public.