Because with limited resources for space exploration, it makes sense to actually explore someplace where humans could actually land in the near future and maybe has life. Any serious exploration of Venus would be pretty demanding.

I've been watching Apollo footage recently too ;)

I am not sure about next 50 years, so far It looks like people would spend more on some selfie sticks than space exploration.

Mercury, Gemini and Apollo were standins for open war with the Soviet Union, so they got more war-like funding and focus. 'Terrorists' aren't going to be shown up by space travel and no one believes we're really at war with the Chinese so no one is willing to throw money at it.

The US has never really funded anything that isn't related directly or indirectly to war, that includes Space Exploration.