All Research

While few Americans want to see Iran develop a nuclear weapon, just half expressed support for US airstrikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities—and most believe direct military action would spark a broader regional war.

Just three in 10 Americans see the division of foreign policy powers between Congress and the president as “about right.”

They are also divided on the United States’ participation in Europe’s “Coalition of the Willing” to defend a ceasefire in Ukraine.

Results and analysis of the Council's 2025 annual survey of American views on foreign policy.

Majorities also oppose using US troops to overthrow governments in Cuba or Colombia, occupy Venezuela, and gain access to the natural resources of other countries.

The public supports deploying US troops to defend allies, particularly in Europe, but most oppose using them for territorial expansion.

Americans and Taiwanese see US power as superior to Beijing’s, and China’s rise as a major threat to both countries. Yet Americans remain more cautious about direct military involvement, even as both sides prefer maintaining the cross-strait status quo.

As technology reshapes media ecosystems, Council polling finds the US public is struggling to weed out fact from fiction.

Americans of all partisan stripes agree free trade agreements are important, but Republicans want them with a side of trade barriers.

While Democrats have grown more concerned than ever about weakening democracy at home, Republican worries have sharply declined.