Americans would generally prefer for Donald Trump to spend less time on foreign policy and instead focus more on domestic issues and the economy. Trump's bid to acquire Greenland remains unpopular and few members of either party are in favor of using tariffs to incentivize European countries to back the proposed acquisition.
What you need to know about Americans' views on foreign policy, as of the January 23 - 26, 2026 Economist / YouGov Poll:
- Americans are far more likely to say Trump is focusing too much on foreign policy than too little (38% vs. 14%)
- The opposite is true for domestic policy (11% say he's focusing too much on it vs. 38% who say he's focusing too little) and, to an even greater extent, the economy (6% too much vs. 52% too little)
- Trump has repeatedly expressed frustration over not being awarded a Nobel Peace Prize and has allegedly cited this perceived slight as a motivating factor in his push to acquire Greenland
- Most Americans (59%) disagree that Trump deserved to win a Nobel Peace Prize; about half as many (27%) say he did deserve to win one
- Trump's recent focus on acquiring Greenland is not a priority shared by most Americans: 55% say attempting to control Greenland has been a bad thing while less than half as many (23%) say it has been good
- Few Americans (13%) support the U.S. using military force to take control of Greenland; 72% oppose doing so
- Vast majorities of Democrats (92%) and Independents (76%) oppose the U.S. using military force to take control of Greenland
- Republicans are also far more likely to oppose than support a U.S. military takeover of Greenland (49% vs. 29%). While still low, net support among Republicans for a military takeover of Greenland has risen in the past week, to -20 from -30
- 32% of Americans say they would support the U.S. purchasing Greenland, while 51% are opposed
- Republicans are twice as likely to support purchasing Greenland as they are to support using military force to take control of it (60% vs. 29%)
- Vast majorities of Democrats oppose purchasing Greenland and using military force to take it over (82% vs. 92%)
- Only 15% of Americans — including 3% of Democrats and 33% of Republicans — are in favor of the U.S. imposing tariffs on European countries if they do not support the U.S. taking control of Greenland
- More Americans believe that the U.S. holds the upper hand in its relationship with Europe than think Europe does (47% vs. 27%)
- Twice as many Democrats think Europe has the upper hand as think the U.S. does (51% vs. 23%)
- Three-quarters (76%) of Republicans think the U.S. has the upper hand; only 7% say Europe does
- Two-thirds (67%) of Americans — including majorities of Democrats (78%), Independents (63%), and Republicans (63%) — think the U.S. should defend a NATO country if it is attacked; only 8% say the U.S. should not defend it
Image: Getty (Joe Raedle / Staff)
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