WASHINGTON – Despite broad disapproval of President Donald Trump’s management of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict among Americans, the issue hasn’t significantly impacted his general public image, in contrast to the effect it had on President Joe Biden, as revealed by a recent survey. This disparity can be attributed to Trump’s steadfast support among his core base concerning this matter. The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research conducted a survey among U.S. adults, indicating that around 80% of Republicans are in favor of Trump’s approach to the conflict. In comparison, only about 40% of Democrats approved of Biden’s handling of the issue last June, just before he exited the presidential race.
Reflecting on past and present U.S. foreign policies, Patrick Vigil, a 60-year-old Republican from New Mexico, commented that Trump’s previous administration did not initiate any wars. He perceives a clear distinction between Trump’s historical record and actions from his first term compared to Biden’s presidency. Vigil believes Trump is attempting to address issues he claims Biden allowed escalating.
The poll highlights a growing approval of the U.S.’s foreign policy decisions among Republicans, as Trump decreases U.S. support for Ukraine, exerting increased pressure on allies with proposals such as annexing Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal. Trump has firmly warned Hamas that punitive measures would follow if Israeli hostages are not released promptly and has encouraged Israel to conclude their military actions swiftly. Trump supports dialogue for ceasefire efforts in these conflicts and asserts he could end the Ukraine-Russia war within “24 hours”—or even sooner upon assuming office again. Since returning to the White House, Trump has openly criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, yet concurrently pushed Russian President Vladimir Putin to accept a peace agreement.
Republicans exhibit greater satisfaction with the nation’s role in international affairs currently, with around half expressing that the U.S.’s involvement is appropriately balanced. This marks an increase from around 20% during February of the previous year, under Biden’s presidency. There is also a broader agreement in favor of focusing on ceasefire talks regarding Israel and Ukraine compared to last year. Approximately 60% of U.S. adults deem negotiations for a lasting peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine “extremely” or “very” important, showcasing an increase from roughly half in a previous February 2024 AP-NORC poll. Similar opinions are reflected concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Republican commitment to these international policy goals has strengthened since Trump reassumed leadership. Currently, about 60% of Republicans view U.S.-led peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine as vital, up from around 40% the previous year. Lisa Major, a 61-year-old registered Republican from Kentucky and a Trump supporter, believes in the importance of facilitating discussions where all parties can utilize resources to reach compromises.
Meanwhile, Keith Willey, a Florida-based Republican-leaning independent who previously voted for a third-party candidate, notes an increasing significance in peace agreements within Ukraine and Gaza. However, he remains opposed to any treaty that could allow Hamas to retain control over Gaza or one that might split Ukraine with Russia or involve U.S. dominance over Ukraine’s mineral resources. Willey continues to advocate for robust American support in Ukraine’s resistance against Russia and for solid U.S. support for Israel.
Contrastingly, just about 20% of Republicans believe that military aid to Ukraine is of significant importance, and some Trump supporters are dissatisfied with his efforts toward achieving a ceasefire. Michael Johnson, a 36-year-old independent voter from North Carolina who supported Trump, expresses disappointment in Trump’s actions regarding conflicts in Israel and Ukraine. He feels Trump has fallen short of his promises to bring these wars to a quick end.
Furthermore, many Republicans desire a reduction in U.S. involvement in foreign matters. Around 40% now advocate for reducing America’s active global role. Major, a Trump supporter, agrees with this approach, emphasizing that less international involvement aligns with her preferences and benefits American citizens by redirecting focus towards domestic issues.
The survey, conducted by the AP-NORC Center from March 20-24, involved 1,229 U.S. adults through NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, designed to accurately represent the U.S. population with a margin of sampling error of ±3.9 percentage points for all adults surveyed.