Poll: More Republicans Favor U.S. Focus on Ukraine, Gaza Ceasefire Efforts

WASHINGTON — A recent poll indicates that while most Americans disapprove of Donald Trump’s approach to , his public image isn’t as negatively impacted as President ‘s was.

This is attributed to Trump’s strong support within his base on this issue. According to the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey of U.S. adults, approximately 80% of Republicans approve of Trump’s handling of the conflict. In contrast, only about 40% of Democrats approved of Biden’s handling of the conflict last June, prior to Biden  from the presidential race.

Patrick Vigil, a 60-year-old Republican from New Mexico and a Trump voter, stated, “During Trump’s first administration, we didn’t initiate any wars. There’s a clear distinction between his past record and first term compared to Biden’s presidency. I believe Trump is simply trying to rectify the issues that Biden allowed to escalate.”

The poll suggests that Republicans are increasingly satisfied with the country’s foreign policy decisions as Trump reduces U.S. support for Ukraine and increases pressure on allies, particularly with his discussions of .

Trump has cautioned Hamas about potential  if Israeli hostages aren’t immediately released and has urged Israel to conclude their offensive and  He has  in both conflicts and claimed he could  between Ukraine and Russia within “24 hours,” even before assuming office. Since returning to the presidency, Trump has been openly critical of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy but has also attempted to push Russia’s Vladimir Putin towards a peace agreement.

Generally, Republicans are now more satisfied with the U.S.’s handling of global issues with Trump as president. About half of Republicans believe the U.S.’s current role in international affairs is appropriate, a rise from approximately 20% last February during Biden’s presidency.

There is a greater consensus that the U.S. should prioritize ceasefire negotiations in Israel and Ukraine compared to last year. Around 60% of U.S. adults consider it “extremely” or “very” important for the U.S. to negotiate a permanent ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, an increase from about 50% in an AP-NORC poll from February 2024. A similar trend is observed regarding the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

Since Trump assumed office, Republicans have shown increased commitment to both foreign policy objectives, according to the poll. For example, about 60% of Republicans now consider it highly important for the U.S. to negotiate a permanent ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, up from roughly 40% the previous year.

Lisa Major, a 61-year-old registered Republican from Kentucky who voted for Trump in November, stated, “I believe we need to take a step back and find a way to bring everyone to the table so they can utilize their own resources and determine what compromises they need to make.”

Keith Willey, a Republican-leaning registered independent from Florida who voted for a third-party candidate for president, mentioned that peace agreements in Ukraine and Gaza have become increasingly important to him due to the rising death toll and destruction.

However, Willey clarified that he doesn’t support an agreement that allows Hamas to remain in control of Gaza, nor does he support a ceasefire in Ukraine that involves dividing the country with Russia or relies on the U.S. taking control of Ukraine’s .

He still advocates for strong American intervention on Ukraine’s behalf against Russia and strong U.S. support for Israel. He also disapproves of Trump’s amicable relationship with Russia and Vladimir Putin.

“I’m not against providing weapons to Ukraine. I believe we should offer support where possible to help them defend their country. But, generally, I would like to see a ceasefire,” said Willey, 63.

Nevertheless, many Republicans are hesitant about further investment in Ukraine. Only about 20% believe providing aid to Ukraine’s military to combat Russia is “extremely” or “very” important, and not all Trump voters are content with his ceasefire efforts.

Michael Johnson, a 36-year-old registered independent from North Carolina who voted for Trump, is dissatisfied with Trump’s handling of Israel’s war in Gaza and the  of Ukraine.

Johnson noted that Trump had presented himself as a president capable of swiftly ending the wars but has not done so.

“I don’t think he followed through with what he promised,” Johnson said. “He stated he would stop it, but it’s still ongoing. Many people are losing their lives, including young children.”

Furthermore, many Republicans desire Trump to continue reducing American involvement abroad, with approximately 40% now suggesting that the U.S. should adopt a less active role in global affairs.

This sentiment is shared by Major, who supports Trump, approves of his approach to foreign conflicts, and appreciates his efforts to diminish the U.S.’s role in the world, aligning with her own preferences.

“Firstly, it diverts our attention from American citizens. Secondly, it might convey a negative message that we keep interfering in other people’s problems when we can’t resolve our own,” Major explained.

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Levy reported from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

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The AP-NORC poll, involving 1,229 adults, was carried out between March 20-24, using a sample from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, designed to represent the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 3.9 percentage points.