American Public Opinion on Trump’s Handling of National Security
JULY 2025
Nearly half of American voters (49%) think Trump’s national security policies are making us less safe, while only 38% believe he’s making us safer.
Key Findings
More than half of voters (58%), including 57% of Independents, disapprove of the Trump administration’s firing and removal of career national security officials and military officers.
Across the board, large majorities oppose the Trump administration’s actions and policies on the military and intelligence community:
77% oppose firing women and people of color from leadership and replacing them with white men
67% oppose Defense Secretary Hegseth’s use of Signal to discuss classified information
65% oppose increasing intelligence collection on Greenland to support efforts to take control of the territory
61% oppose removing intelligence analysts whose reports conflict with Trump’s politics.
Messaging Guidance
Most Americans prioritize other issues that more directly affect them — such as the economy, living costs, and tariffs. If raised, the following arguments are potential lines of attack against Trump’s approach to the military.
Donald Trump is undermining the independence, professionalism, and readiness of the U.S. military.
He has fired and dismissed senior military officers and is imposing political litmus tests to install people who are personally loyal to him.
He has tried to use the military to silence his critics and police American neighborhoods, even though our laws and Constitution are designed to prevent that.