Defense & National Security

Twenty years ago this month, the U.S. launched a major invasion of Iraq. President George W. Bush and his administration at first drew broad public support for the use of military force. Yet the campaign soon left Americans deeply divided, and by 2019, 62% said the Iraq War was not worth fighting.

Attitudes toward Russia and Vladimir Putin turned much more negative, while opinions of NATO grew more positive.

The share of Republicans who say the U.S. gives too much aid to Ukraine has steadily increased, from 9% in March 2022 to 40% now.

The new House will have 80 members who’ve served in the military, or 18.4% of members. That’s up from 75, or 17.2%, in the 117th Congress.

As daunting challenges from Russia, China and a flagging global economy ripple across the world, Americans and Germans continue to say that relations between their countries are good. Most Americans and Germans continue to see each other as partners on protecting European security, and publics in each country are willing to support using military action to protect themselves and their allies.

21% of the roughly 1,000 candidates for U.S. Senate, House or state governor on the fall ballot claim some degree of military experience.

Americans express less concern than in the spring about Ukraine being defeated by Russia and about the war expanding into other countries.

Here’s how people in the U.S. and elsewhere have viewed the troop evacuation and its aftermath, and their broader attitudes about the war.

A large majority of Americans (78%) say tensions between China and Taiwan are at least a somewhat serious problem for the United States.

Many U.S. adults describe cyberattacks from other countries (71%) and the spread of misinformation online (70%) as major threats to the U.S.