Terrorism, Nuclear Threats Top US Foreign Policy Concerns: Poll

Poll shows Americans prioritize counterterrorism, nuclear nonproliferation, and energy security, while support for democracy-building abroad remains low.

A test-fire of a Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at an undisclosed location in North Korea on March 24, 2022. Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP

A new Gallup poll shows that Americans continue to prioritize national security, with preventing terrorism and halting the spread of nuclear weapons ranking as top foreign policy goals.

The survey found that Americans’ foreign policy preferences have remained largely unchanged at the start of President Donald Trump’s second term compared to when he first took office in 2017.

Conducted from Feb. 3–16, the survey asked 1,004 U.S. adults about the significance of various foreign policy objectives.

It found that 84 percent of respondents considered the prevention of international terrorism a “very important” goal, with 95 percent viewing it as at least “somewhat important.” Similarly, 83 percent saw stopping the spread of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction as a top priority, with 94 percent agreeing it is “somewhat important.”

Energy security was also a concern, as 78 percent rated ensuring adequate U.S. energy supplies as “very important,” and 96 percent saw it as at least “somewhat important.” Trade policy followed closely, with 67 percent prioritizing favorable agreements for the United States, while 96 percent considered it important overall.

Support for international cooperation was also evident: 65 percent said working with NATO to protect U.S. and allied security is “very important,” and 62 percent said the same about collaborating with the United Nations to foster global cooperation.

Americans placed less emphasis on promoting democracy abroad. A total of 32 percent of respondents saw helping other nations establish democratic governments as “very important,” while 73 percent considered it “somewhat important.”

Promoting and defending human rights in other countries was considered “very important” by 48 percent of Americans.

The poll also asked about global poverty and disease reduction, with 58 percent stating these efforts should be a “very important” foreign policy goal. In contrast, promoting economic development in other nations ranked lower, with just 28 percent calling it “very important.”

“The public is united in thinking the nation’s top priorities should be preventing terrorism, curtailing nuclear proliferation and securing energy supplies,” Lydia Saad, director of U.S. Social Research at Gallup, said in a March 4 report on the poll. “Smaller majorities want the U.S. to pursue favorable trade deals and work with organizations like the United Nations to bring about global cooperation. Relatively few, on the other hand, rate promoting democracy or economic development in other countries as highly important, although there are sharp partisan differences in views on this group of goals.”

The survey highlights a consistency in American attitudes toward foreign policy priorities over time.

While slight fluctuations were observed in some categories compared to previous years, concerns over security threats have remained dominant. For example, in 2017, 85 percent of Americans also identified terrorism prevention as a “very important” goal.

On trade, the 2025 poll found a notable shift in public opinion, with 81 percent of Americans now seeing foreign trade as an opportunity for economic growth through increased U.S. exports, compared to just 61 percent in 2024.

That is on par with the 79 percent high seen at the end of Trump’s first term regarding trade as a point of opportunity.

The number of Americans who also believe foreign trade is a threat to the U.S. economy fell by half to 14 percent.

Regarding NATO, 76 percent of respondents said the alliance should be maintained, reinforcing continued public support for the Western security pact. In comparison, a total of 19 percent believe that NATO is not necessary.