Poll Reveals Terrorism and Nuclear Threats as Leading Concerns in US Foreign Policy
A poll indicates that Americans place a high priority on counterterrorism, nuclear nonproliferation, and energy security, while enthusiasm for promoting democracy abroad remains limited.
A recent Gallup poll reveals that national security remains a top concern for Americans, with stopping terrorism and preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons being the leading objectives in foreign policy.
The findings indicate that Americans’ foreign policy preferences have shown minimal change as President Donald Trump begins his second term, compared to the start of his administration in 2017.
According to the survey, 84 percent of participants deemed the prevention of international terrorism a “very important” goal, with 95 percent categorizing it as at least “somewhat important.” In a similar vein, 83 percent considered halting the spread of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction a key priority, with 94 percent acknowledging its significance as “somewhat important.”
Energy security was another pressing issue, with 78 percent rating the assurance of adequate U.S. energy supplies as “very important,” and 96 percent viewing it as at least “somewhat important.” Trade policy closely followed, with 67 percent prioritizing beneficial agreements for the United States, while 96 percent recognized its overall importance.
Support for international collaboration was also notable: 65 percent stated that working with NATO to safeguard U.S. and allied security is “very important,” and 62 percent expressed the same sentiment towards collaborating with the United Nations to enhance global cooperation.
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Support for advancing democracy internationally was notably lower, with only 32 percent considering aiding other countries in building democratic governments as “very important,” while 73 percent classified it as “somewhat important.”
About 48 percent of Americans stressed the importance of promoting and protecting human rights in foreign nations.
When polled about tackling global poverty and disease, 58 percent responded that these issues should be a “very important” focus of foreign policy. Conversely, promoting economic growth in other nations was deemed “very important” by just 28 percent.
The survey underscores a persistent trend in American views regarding foreign policy priorities over time.
Although there were minor variations in certain areas compared to prior years, apprehensions about security threats have remained paramount. For instance, 85 percent of Americans identified terrorism prevention as a “very important” objective back in 2017.
The 2025 poll showed a significant change in the perception of trade, with 81 percent of Americans now viewing foreign trade as a potential source of economic growth through increased U.S. exports, a rise from just 61 percent in 2024.
This aligns closely with the 79 percent high noted at the conclusion of Trump’s first term concerning trade as an opportunity.
Furthermore, the proportion of Americans who view foreign trade as a threat to the U.S. economy halved to 14 percent.
Regarding NATO, 76 percent of respondents affirmed that the alliance should be preserved, thus highlighting ongoing public support for the Western security organization. In comparison, 19 percent believe NATO is unnecessary.
