Poll shows Americans prioritize domestic issues over global leadership

Majority of Americans Believe U.S. Should Focus More on Domestic Issues and Withdraw from Foreign Affairs

Despite an increasing number of Americans believing that the U.S. should be more engaged and take the lead in international events, a majority of Americans still believe that the U.S. should focus more on issues at home and withdraw from foreign affairs.

However, the percentage of Americans who believe it’s important for the U.S. to be more engaged and take the lead in international events is on the rise, with a 12-point increase in the last six months.

A majority, consisting of 54% of respondents, expressed support for a more engaged U.S. foreign policy, up from 42% in November. This latest figure includes 66% of Democrats and 49% of Republicans.

“The number of Americans seeking American leadership and engagement is at a five-year high,” she added.

Most Americans also said they believe U.S. involvement in international events is beneficial for both the United States (57%) and the world (61%).

Over three-fourths, or 78%, of respondents indicated they agree that U.S. leadership and engagement in international affairs is “essential” for boosting the economy and securing favorable trade arrangements.

A similar amount of Americans, 77%, indicated they believe it is important for the U.S. to stand up for human rights and democracy around the world, while 86% indicated it was important for the U.S. to maintain a strong military that can maintain peace and prosperity both at home and around the world.

The poll results come amid continued debate over how involved the U.S. should be in defending Ukraine amid its war with Russia, with some arguing that the billions of dollars spent equipping the Ukrainian military would be better spent on domestic issues.

Despite a two percent decrease since the previous Reagan Institute survey last summer, 57% of Americans said they support sending military aid to Ukraine, with 32% opposing it and another 11% indicating uncertainty.

Americans also believe it is in the best interest of the U.S. for Ukraine to win its conflict against Russia, with 75% saying it is important for Ukraine to win compared to 17% who indicated it was unimportant. There was no change in these percentages compared to last year’s survey.

Hoffman noted that the Reagan Institute’s data on Ukraine has remained “remarkably consistent over time.”

Regarding Israel, a majority of Americans believe that the war-torn country, which responded forcefully to the 2023 invasion by Hamas militants, should be supported by the U.S.

“Both Republicans and Democrats, in large numbers, want to support Israel in its fight against the Hamas terrorists in the Middle East,” Hoff said.

Around 56% of Americans said they support sending aid to Israel, compared to 35% who oppose the effort. Additionally, 68% said they support the U.S. sending missile defense systems to Israel to help defend against drone or missile attacks.

Fifty-five percent of those surveyed said they would support an Israeli counterattack against continued Iranian aggression, while 31% said they would oppose it.

Three-quarters of Americans expressed concern about humanitarian conditions in Gaza, indicating their worry about Israel’s war with Hamas and its impact on U.S. security and prosperity.

Furthermore, the survey highlighted Americans’ concerns over Chinese military buildup, with 82% indicating some level of concern.

Other findings related to China included worries about human rights violations (83%), technology theft (83%), China overtaking the U.S. as the world’s superpower (75%), and the isolation of Taiwan (68%).

Hoffman emphasized that public opinion on China has been shifting significantly over time, with an increasing number of Americans seeing China as an adversary due to concerns about technology theft, human rights abuses, and the Chinese military buildup.

A slim majority, or 51%, of respondents said they believe the social media app TikTok, which is owned by a Chinese company closely connected to the Chinese government, should be banned in the U.S. Another 39% opposed a ban on the app, while 10% were unsure.

The survey sampled 1,257 U.S. adults from May 20 to May 27.