Defense & National Security

While Americans see some aspects of U.S. power more positively than people elsewhere, they offer more negative views in other areas.

There is a wide partisan split on the fairness of the House committee’s probe.

Veterans and non-veterans in the United States largely align when it comes to the decision to pull all troops out of Afghanistan.

Americans show more support than opposition for two infrastructure bills; majorities favor raising taxes on large businesses and high-income households.

Twenty years ago, Americans came together – bonded by sadness and patriotism – after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. But a review of public opinion in the two decades since finds that unity was fleeting. It also shows how support for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq was strong initially but fell over time.

54% of U.S. adults say the decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan was the right one, while 42% say it was wrong.

Jewish Americans – much like the U.S. public overall – hold widely differing views on Israel and its political leadership.

“Saddened, hurt, disgusted,” one woman in her 50s said. “Never thought I would see anything like this in my life.”

A median of about seven-in-ten people in 14 countries expressed unfavorable views of Iran, while only about two-in-ten hold a favorable view.

A median of 60% across 10 surveyed member countries have a favorable view of the political and military alliance.