The Ronald Reagan Institute gauges respondents’ attitudes toward national security. As in the past, the survey shows a generally favorable assessment of America’s capability to hold its position as a world leader. The views reflect the polling of 2,507 US adults. Despite many topics, polling shows significant partisan splits. However, the results underscore continued American support for “peace through strength.”
Survey Says: US Must Have the Best Military
Americans want the US to be a capable international leader, with a military ready and able to defend US interests. That was the overall theme. Here are five takeaways from this year’s survey:
Compelling Support for US International Leadership and Formidable Military: As the assessment showed, “Record high numbers of Americans support international engagement.” Almost two-thirds of those polled believe that the US “should be more engaged and take the lead in international affairs, while a third prefer less engagement.” The split along partisan lines showed that nearly 80% of MAGA Republicans favored “strong American leadership” abroad, while just 57% of Democrats believed the US should show greater leadership in world affairs. These statistics are of note since MAGA Republicans have taken a position generally against foreign entanglements, and President Trump continues to push an “America First” agenda.
One area where both Republicans and Democrats agreed was the need for a formidable military capability. Nine out of ten respondents said it was important for the US to have a strong military and believed that peace in the world is more likely when the US is “the strongest power.” An impressive number of those polled thought the US should have a force structure capable of supporting a “two-war” contingency.
General Support for Defense Investments and Innovations: Over two-thirds of those polled support President Trump’s “Golden Dome” missile defense system. There is widespread concern among survey respondents (80%) about the US being held hostage to Chinese rare earth elements and semiconductors. Additionally, “Public views on artificial intelligence (AI) are evolving. Twenty-seven percent say greater AI integration in US military systems is a good idea (up from 20% in 2023).” When respondents learned that subject matter experts believe AI could give the US a strategic advantage, “the number who support integrating AI into US military systems rises to 38%.” Educating Americans on the safeguards needed for AI and the technology edge it gives the US is the challenge ahead for the Department of War.
Decline in Trust and Confidence in the Military as an Institution: The Reagan Institute poll assessment reported: “Overall public confidence in the US military as an institution has declined significantly since the first Reagan National Defense Survey in 2018.” The current survey showed that “49% of Americans report a great deal of confidence in the military – down 21 points from 2018…” There is a stark partisan divide in confidence in the US Armed Forces. Republican "high confidence in the military" increased from just under half of those polled in 2023 to over two-thirds in this recent survey. Democrats' confidence in the military, on the other hand, declined from 47% to 33%. The break along party lines is based on a general perspective as to what the US military should be.
Republicans believe, for example, that military service should be based on merit, not identity as reflected in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. Democrats favor identity distinctions as the metric and back DEI. "On eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion programs across the Pentagon‚ 76% of Republicans approve, while 75% of Democrats disapprove." Opinions also split along party lines over using active-duty troops and federalized National Guard soldiers for fortifying border security (87% of Republicans were in favor compared to only 33% of Democrats).
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