Many Americans — including at least half of both Democrats and Republicans — think the U.S. should take an active role in world affairs, though opinions are mixed on whether promoting democracy should be part of that action. Many believe America's global standing has fallen during Trump's second term.
What you need to know about how Americans view their country's role in the world, as of the November 15 - 17, 2025 Economist / YouGov Poll:
- Americans are more likely to say the U.S. should take an active part in world affairs than to say it should stay out of world affairs (49% vs. 29%)
- Democrats (57%) and Republicans (51%) are more likely than Independents (42%) to support the U.S. taking an active role in world affairs
- Americans are more closely divided on the question of whether the U.S. has a responsibility to actively promote democracy around the world: 52% think it has this responsibility and 48% say it does not
- Democrats (63%) are more likely than Republicans (48%) and Independents (45%) to say the U.S. has a responsibility to promote democracy abroad
- Half (51%) of Americans think that America's standing in the world has worsened since Trump's presidency began earlier this year; 33% think it has improved and 10% think it has stayed about the same
- 41% of Americans think that the chances of a nuclear war are higher than they were five years ago, at the end of Trump's first term; 14% think they are lower and 31% think they are about the same
- Far more Democrats than Republicans think the chances of nuclear war are higher than they were five years ago (64% vs. 17%)
Image: Getty (Leon Neal / Staff)
