WASHINGTON — Amidst the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, a recent poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reveals that a significant number of Americans are not in favor of the U.S. taking a more proactive stance in resolving global issues.
Interestingly, the poll results show a consensus among both Democrats and Republicans, with the majority agreeing that the U.S. should maintain its current level of involvement in the conflicts involving Russia and Ukraine, as well as Israel and Hamas.
According to the poll, 40% of U.S. adults believe that America should adopt a “less active” approach in addressing global conflicts. Only a quarter of the respondents think the U.S. should be more involved, while a third believe the current level of involvement is appropriate.
These findings highlight the complex dynamics that President Joe Biden and the potential Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump, will have to navigate in the run-up to the election in November.
In recent times, the Biden administration has been increasingly forthright in urging Israel and Hamas to agree to a cease-fire that would last a minimum of six weeks. This would facilitate the release of numerous hostages taken captive by militants during Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7.
While a small number of U.S. adults from both political parties want the country to adopt a more active stance, Republicans, at 53%, are approximately twice as likely as Democrats, at 25%, to advocate for less active involvement abroad. About half (52%) of Democrats believe the U.S.’s current position is “about right.”
Many Republicans refer to America’s history of intervention in countries like Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, which often resulted in bloody and futile outcomes.
“We’ve been involved in numerous conflicts that never yield any positive results,” Kurt Bunde, a Republican from Idaho, shared with the Associated Press. “We may have good intentions and feel obligated to protect our allies’ interests, but the outcomes speak for themselves.”
The focus of U.S. international military resources is also a contentious topic, with Republicans and Democrats disagreeing on whether the nation should be more involved in the war between Ukraine and Russia or the war between Israel and Hamas.
Only about 2 in 10 U.S. adults believe the U.S. should be more involved in each war. For each, about 4 in 10 think the current role is about right, and 36% believe the U.S. needs to take a step back.
Republicans and independents are more likely than Democrats to suggest that the U.S. should reduce its support for Ukraine. About half of Republicans and independents want the U.S. to be less involved in the war between Ukraine and Russia, compared to only 18% of Democrats.
Since Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated his invasion of Ukraine over two years ago, the U.S. has provided $111 billion in weapons, equipment, humanitarian assistance, and other aid to Ukraine. A $95 billion aid package is currently stalled in Congress due to Republican opposition, as Ukrainian soldiers start to ration ammunition.
“America is spread thin everywhere, and we need to prioritize our own needs first,” Matt Wood, a Republican from Kentucky, stated in an interview. “If we have the resources available, then we can assist other countries.”
Half of Democrats believe the U.S.’s current role in the Russia-Ukraine war is appropriate, and 30% want a more active role. Overall, Democrats are more likely to support U.S. intervention in Ukraine: Nearly 6 in 10 believe it’s very or extremely important for the U.S. to provide aid to Ukraine’s military to combat Russia or negotiate a permanent cease-fire between Russia and Ukraine. In contrast, only 24% of Republicans prioritize more military aid, and 41% of Republicans believe it’s extremely or very important for the U.S. to help broker a permanent ceasefire.
“Given our power and wealth, I believe we have to take some responsibility,” Christina Taylor, a Maryland Democrat, said. “Decreasing our responsibilities or interest in other countries goes against the kind of country we are.”
Despite the usual bipartisan support for aid to Israel in Congress, about 4 in 10 Republicans believe the U.S. should be less involved in the war between Israel and Hamas.
“I genuinely believe it’s not our business because it’s Israel’s war,” Donna Cole, a Missouri Republican, said. “The only role that the United States should have is to bring back any Americans who are hostages.”
She added, “But we should not be imposing restrictions on Israel or, for that matter, on the Palestinians.”
About half of Democrats believe the nation’s current role in the Israel-Hamas war is appropriate, while the rest are divided on whether the U.S. should be more or less involved. Independents are slightly more likely than members of either political party to suggest the U.S. should be less involved, and only 11% want the U.S. to be more involved.
There are significant partisan divides on the type of aid that the U.S. should provide in the Israel-Hamas war. About one-third of Republicans believe it’s extremely or very important for the U.S. to provide aid to Israel’s military to fight Hamas, compared to 20% of Democrats. Conversely, about 6 in 10 Democrats believe it’s extremely or very important for the U.S. to help negotiate a permanent cease-fire and provide humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, while 34% of Republicans prioritize U.S. help with a cease-fire and 15% of Republicans believe it’s important for the U.S. to provide humanitarian aid.
Taylor, who is a nurse, said that the only active role the U.S. should be taking in the conflict in Gaza is pushing back on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government’s military response.
“We’re not doing enough to push the Israelis to lighten up a little bit because I think they’re overstepping,” Taylor said.
The poll, which surveyed 1,102 adults, was conducted from February 22-26, 2024, using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 4.1 percentage points.
Disagree, Americans should focus on domestic issues first.