An NPR/Ipsos poll indicates a significant decrease in Americans' belief that the United States currently serves as a global moral leader, despite a continued desire for it to do so.
Key Findings on Moral Leadership
- 61% of respondents believe the U.S. should be a moral leader.
- Only 39% believe the U.S. currently is a moral leader, a decrease from 60% in 2017.
- Nearly half of the country prefers Washington to avoid involvement in the affairs of other countries.
Foreign Policy Priorities
The survey also highlights shifts in foreign policy preferences:
- 46% of Americans prioritize U.S. policy focusing on "enriching America and Americans."
- 32% prioritize promoting democracy and human rights in other countries, a decrease from 42% in 2017.
Perceptions of Global Influence
Americans hold distinct views on the global standing of the U.S. and China:
- 64% view the U.S. as the world's top military power and a "superpower."
- 50% believe the U.S. has lost global influence in the last five years, with notable partisan differences.
- 57% believe China has been gaining influence.
- 40% consider China the leader in technology development, compared to 23% for the U.S.
Partisan Divisions
The poll reveals significant partisan splits on foreign policy issues:
- "America First" vs. Democracy Promotion: 67% of Republicans and 45% of independents prioritize enriching America, while 52% of Democrats prioritize promoting democracy and human rights abroad.
- Ukraine Aid: 60% of Democrats and 43% of independents believe the U.S. is not providing enough support to Kyiv, whereas 31% of Republicans believe it is providing too much.
- Russia Support: 62% of Democrats believe the U.S. is giving Russia too much support, compared to 32% of Republicans.
Taiwan Defense
Regarding potential conflicts, Americans show uncertainty about defending Taiwan:
- 36% believe the U.S. would have a responsibility to defend Taiwan militarily if China used force.
- 41% responded with "don't know" when asked about military intervention in Taiwan.
The poll was conducted in December with 1,021 Americans and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percentage points. It serves as a follow-up to a similar 2017 survey.