A solid majority of Americans believe the United States should take a leading or major role in global affairs, according to a recent Gallup survey.
The poll, conducted in early February, found that 66% of Americans support the U.S. having a significant presence in addressing international problems. With 19% backing a leadership role and 47% favoring a major role.
However, this level of support remains below the 75% average recorded between 2001 and 2009, marking one of the lowest points in Gallup’s 25-year trend.
The findings come at a time when the United States is actively involved in international crises, including efforts to broker peace between Israel and Hamas and to bring an end to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
The survey was completed before the tense February 28 Oval Office meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
While a majority of Americans still believe in an assertive U.S. role globally, the data reveals a gradual decline in support for such engagement over the past two decades.
Compared to the early 2000s, the percentage of Americans favoring a major role for the U.S. has dropped by seven points, while those preferring a minor role have increased by nine points.
Currently, 28% of Americans favor a reduced global role, and 3% believe the U.S. should withdraw from international affairs altogether.
Republicans (71%) and Democrats (75%) are nearly identical in their belief that the U.S. should maintain a leading or major role. However, Republicans are more likely than Democrats (28% vs. 20%) to support a minor role.
Political independents show the least enthusiasm for global engagement, with only 58% supporting a leading or major role.
Historically, Republicans and independents have become less inclined to back U.S. global leadership.
Between 2001 and 2009, 83% of Republicans and 70% of independents supported a strong international presence. Today, those figures have declined by 12 percentage points, though Republican support for a major U.S. role saw a significant rebound this year under Trump.
U.S. Strength: Military Power vs. Economic Leadership
The survey also sheds light on Americans’ perceptions of U.S. global dominance.
A majority (56%) believe the U.S. has the strongest military in the world, while only 26% see it as the leading economic power.
Notably, 43% say the U.S. is merely one of several leading military powers, while 72% share that view regarding the economy.
When it comes to prioritizing global dominance, 66% of Americans say it is important for the U.S. to maintain the world’s most powerful military, while 49% say the same about the economy.
Republicans are especially firm on this issue—89% believe the U.S. must have the strongest military, compared to 63% of independents and 48% of Democrats.
Similarly, 71% of Republicans see economic supremacy as vital, compared to 47% of independents and just 29% of Democrats.
These partisan differences reflect a broader trend: Republicans tend to view U.S. economic strength more favorably under GOP administrations, while Democratic perspectives remain more stable regardless of who is in the White House.
Dissatisfaction with America’s Global Standing
Despite strong support for U.S. leadership abroad, Americans remain largely dissatisfied with the nation’s overall position in world affairs.
The survey found that only 39% of Americans are satisfied with America’s global standing, while 59% express dissatisfaction.
This discontent has been a persistent trend dating back to the Vietnam era, with rare exceptions during periods of economic growth or major national security events, such as the early 2000s after 9/11.
Notably, views on America’s global standing appear to be heavily influenced by party affiliation.
Under Trump, 65% of Republicans express satisfaction with the country’s position in the world, compared to just 14% of Democrats and 38% of independents.
This is a dramatic shift from 2023, when Biden was president, and only 8% of Republicans were satisfied, compared to 60% of Democrats and 32% of independents.
America’s Role Moving Forward
With mounting international conflicts and global economic uncertainties, Americans remain engaged in the debate over the nation’s role on the world stage.
While support for a strong U.S. presence remains solid, it has softened compared to previous decades.
Partisan divides continue to shape attitudes, with Republicans emphasizing military and economic strength as key priorities, while Democrats express more cautious views on America’s global dominance.
Will Americans rally behind a more assertive U.S. leadership role, or will calls for a reduced global footprint continue to grow?