LATEST REAGAN NATIONAL DEFENSE SURVEY FINDS DECLINING CONFIDENCE IN MILITARY & UNCERTAINTY ABOUT GLOBAL LEADERSHIP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 1, 2021

LATEST REAGAN NATIONAL DEFENSE SURVEY FINDS DECLINING CONFIDENCE IN MILITARY & UNCERTAINTY ABOUT GLOBAL LEADERSHIP

China Now Dominates Americans’ Security Concerns

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute today

released the results of its fourth Reagan National Defense Survey. The survey revealed a

continuing decline in trust and confidence in the United States military and uncertainty

about whether or how America should lead in the world. There is a growing sense of

pessimism, with 59 percent of respondents saying the country is headed in the wrong

direction.

At the same time, there is bipartisan consensus about the threats we face. For the first

time, a majority of respondents say a single nation poses the greatest threat to the United

States: China. That view, crossing all partisan and demographic lines, reflects concerns

over China’s military buildup, economic practices, technological advancements, and

human rights record.

“When President Reagan first took office, Americans were concerned that we were

falling behind our adversaries abroad, and pessimistic about their situation at home.

This survey tells us they feel similarly today,” said Roger Zakheim, Director of the Ronald

Reagan Institute. “Now, as then, the American people need a reminder of our country’s

potential and its unique role in the world. President Reagan inspired the kind of

renewed optimism, confidence, and purpose that Americans clearly need today from

leaders across the political spectrum.”

For more information about the survey, including a summary, interactive visualizations,

and additional data, visit: www.reaganfoundation.org/defensesurvey.

The survey found the following key takeaways:

● Declining Trust and Confidence in the U.S. Military – The number of Americans

who say they have a great deal of trust and confidence in the military has fallen

by 25 points (from 70 percent to 45 percent) in the last three years, including 11

points just since February. Trust in the military is declining across all major

demographic subgroups, including age, gender, and party affiliation. To

understand this trend, a new survey question this year asked respondents to

identify the reason for their level of confidence in the U.S. military. Those with

high trust and confidence attribute it to our men and women in uniform. A lack of

confidence seems to be more about a general negative sense than a predominant

or precise reason, though political leadership tops the list. Perhaps most troubling

for recruitment in the all-volunteer force, only one-third (33 percent) of adults

under the age of 30 have high confidence in the military, which is down 20 points

since 2018.

● Equivocation and Ambivalence About American Leadership – The survey

reflects growing ambivalence on issues related to America’s role in the world, as

fewer people expressed support for active global leadership. The survey found 42

percent of Americans believe that the United States should be more engaged and

take the lead in the world, which is down 9 points since February. A growing

number (22 percent) said it depends or that they don’t know, which is an increase

of 6 points from February. Only 30 percent say the United States should be less

engaged. However, Americans still overwhelmingly support a forward-deployed

military presence abroad. Nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of the American people

believe that the United States should maintain military bases around the world to

deter attacks and respond quickly to threats.

● Consensus Over the China Threat – China is the country that poses the greatest

threat to the United States, according to 52 percent of Americans. This response is

also reflected across all major demographic subgroups (including age, gender, and

party affiliation). This is the first time a single adversary has captured a majority

of respondents’ concerns since the survey began. The American people have a

diverse set of concerns when it comes to China, including its military buildup,

economic practices, technological advancements, and human rights abuses.

Americans also support a robust U.S. response if China were to invade Taiwan.

● Complex Views on Afghanistan – After 20 years of American involvement in

Afghanistan, 59 percent believe the war there was a failure, up almost 10 points

since February. A plurality of Americans (40 percent) believe the withdrawal

weakens the United States, with slightly fewer (35 percent) saying it does not

make much difference. Only 14 percent believed the withdrawal strengthens the

United States. Overall, approval of the decision to withdraw stands at 47 percent.

Only 27 percent say the United States should have left troop levels the same.

However, a majority (62 percent) disapprove of how the withdrawal was handled.

Nearly half (49 percent) believe the problems associated with the withdrawal

were the fault of President Biden’s poor judgment.

● President Reagan’s Legacy Lives On – Ronald Reagan remains the most popular

former president in recent history, with a 69 percent favorable rating, including

51 percent of Democrats, 63 percent of Independents, and 91 percent of

Republicans.

Media Contacts: Claude Chafin (chafin@invariantgr.com) or

Rachel Hoff (rhoff@reaganfoundation.org)

About the Reagan Foundation and Institute: The Ronald Reagan Presidential

Foundation and Institute is the nonprofit organization created by President Reagan

himself and specifically charged by him with continuing his legacy and sharing his

principles - individual liberty, economic opportunity, global democracy, and national

pride. The Foundation is a non-partisan organization which sustains the Ronald Reagan

Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, CA, the Reagan Center for Public

Affairs, the Presidential Learning Center, The Air Force One Pavilion and the awardwinning

Discovery Center, as well as the Reagan Institute, which carries out the

Foundation’s work in Washington, D.C. The Reagan Library houses over 55 million pages

of Gubernatorial, Presidential and personal papers and over 60,000 gifts and artifacts

chronicling the lives of Ronald and Nancy Reagan. It also serves as the final resting place

of America’s 40th President and his First Lady. www.reaganfoundation.org

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