Americans pan some of Trump’s biggest foreign policy moves in new poll

Americans Are Not Loving Trump’s Foreign Policy Legacy, Says New Poll

It’s no secret that Donald Trump’s foreign policy stirred a lot of debate during his time in the White House. From pulling out of international agreements to cozying up with controversial world leaders, Trump often took a "my way or the highway" approach to global affairs. Now, a new national poll shows that many Americans weren’t exactly fans of how he handled things — and some of his biggest moves are getting more pushback than praise.

The poll, conducted by [insert pollster here], asked Americans for their opinions on several key decisions made during Trump’s presidency, and the results paint a pretty clear picture: while a few of his policies still have some support, a large chunk of Americans think Trump’s approach did more harm than good on the world stage.

Most Americans Want to Stick with NATO

Let’s start with NATO. Throughout his presidency, Trump took regular shots at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, claiming the U.S. was getting a bad deal and threatening to pull out altogether unless other member countries “paid their fair share.”

According to the poll, around 60% of Americans disagreed with the idea of leaving NATO. In fact, most people said they believe the alliance is still important — especially in today’s world where international conflicts like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are ongoing.

While many Republicans appreciated Trump’s tough talk, a sizable portion of independents and even some GOP voters said they’d rather see the U.S. stay committed to NATO. The general feeling? Partnerships like this matter — and turning our back on long-time allies might not be the smartest move.

Trump’s Trade War with China Gets Mixed Reviews

Another major issue was Trump’s trade war with China. He slapped tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of Chinese goods in an attempt to pressure Beijing into changing its trade practices. While this move was framed as a tough stance to protect American businesses, it also sparked a tit-for-tat response that ended up hurting some U.S. industries — especially farmers.

The poll found that more than half of Americans believe those tariffs had a negative impact, mainly by raising prices for everyday consumers and causing economic pain for key industries. Still, some voters, particularly Trump loyalists, felt the trade war was a necessary evil to stand up to China.

So while there was support for the goal — being tougher on China — the way Trump went about it didn’t win over the majority of the public.

Mixed Feelings on Middle East Peace Deals

One area where Trump did get a bit more credit was in the Middle East. His administration helped broker the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

According to the poll, just over 50% of Americans saw this as a positive step toward peace in the region. That said, support was cautious. With tensions in the Middle East continuing to rise in recent months, many people wonder how long those agreements will hold up — and whether they actually led to lasting change.

Still, among the more controversial parts of Trump’s foreign policy playbook, the Abraham Accords seem to be one of the few that a slim majority of Americans feel relatively good about.

Diplomacy with North Korea Didn’t Land

One of Trump’s boldest — and most unusual — moves was holding direct meetings with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. It was the first time a sitting U.S. president had ever done that, and it made global headlines.

But while the photo ops were dramatic, the results didn’t exactly deliver. North Korea never gave up its nuclear weapons, and the talks eventually stalled without any major progress.

According to the poll, about 65% of Americans believe those meetings ultimately led nowhere. Many felt it was more about publicity than real policy — and that the U.S. didn’t get much out of the deal.

“I think people liked the idea of trying something new,” said one foreign policy analyst. “But at the end of the day, folks are looking for results — and there just weren’t any.”

The Bigger Picture: People Want Stability

Zooming out, the poll suggests that most Americans aren’t sold on Trump’s “America First” strategy when it comes to dealing with the world. While the slogan sounds good to some, critics say it often translated to isolating the U.S., pushing away allies, and going it alone.

The majority of respondents said they’d rather see the U.S. take a more balanced, collaborative approach — one that works with global partners rather than against them. That includes staying in international agreements, respecting long-standing alliances, and using diplomacy more than confrontation.

Even among those who supported Trump, there’s a sense that foreign policy might be one area where his instincts didn’t always line up with the bigger picture.

Looking Ahead: Will Foreign Policy Matter in 2024?

Historically, foreign policy hasn’t always been a top issue for American voters. But with ongoing global challenges — including wars, trade disputes, and rising tensions with countries like China and Russia — it could become more relevant in the next election.

If Trump is on the 2024 ballot, these poll numbers show that his foreign policy record may be a talking point, for better or worse. And for candidates on both sides of the aisle, the message from voters seems pretty clear: Americans want strong leadership abroad, but they also want smart, steady hands guiding the way.