Donald Trump’s recent and controversial remarks labeling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “dictator” while favoring the Russian president and suggesting a decline in traditional US security support for Europe may have unsettled US allies internationally, but it has also sparked a deeply polarized response among Americans domestically.
In light of the country’s sharply divided views on the new president and his “America first” foreign policy approach, polling indicates that Republicans are significantly less inclined to support additional assistance for Ukraine. A Pew Research Center survey released earlier this month revealed that 47% of Republicans, compared to only 14% of Democrats, believe the US is offering too much aid to Ukraine—perspectives that have shifted dramatically since the war commenced three years ago, when just 7% of American adults (including 9% of Republicans and 5% of Democrats) thought the US support was excessive.
Many voters on the left express anxiety that Trump’s comments could further empower Russian leader Vladimir Putin, thereby endangering national security.
“It is a shocking denial of reality and exhibits his loyalty to Russia and to Putin in particular,” stated Carla Bayles, a voter from Washington state who backed Kamala Harris in the previous presidential election. “We are alienating our allies and inching closer to a world war.”
Other supporters of Harris share similar sentiments, though many express a lack of surprise considering Trump’s previous minimal backing for Ukraine and his dubious assertion that the war would not have occurred if he had been president in 2022. However, his direct criticism of a US ally and the insinuation that Ukraine could have prevented the war by negotiating a deal has many watching in disbelief.
“I am appalled by Trump’s foreign policy,” remarked Dawna Williams-Landis, a Harris voter from North Carolina. “He has disregarded 200 years of strategic diplomacy that aimed to foster peace through dialogue and freedom.”
Some Americans have even gone so far as to liken Trump to historical figures who failed to confront fascism, such as Neville Chamberlain, the former UK prime minister who adopted an ultimately disastrous policy of appeasement towards Adolf Hitler.
“I can’t decide whether Trump is Neville Chamberlain at Munich or Vidkun Quisling in Norway,” commented David Cohen, a Harris voter from Connecticut. “Regardless, his approach is detrimental to Europe, the US, and democratic values.”
Among Republicans, Trump maintains near-universal support, boasting a 93% approval rating; nonetheless, his harsh critique of Zelenskyy may render him susceptible to backlash, even from his most devoted fans. A Gallup poll indicated that 80% of Republicans approve of Trump’s handling of the Ukraine situation, highlighting it as one of his weaker policy areas among party members.
Judy Kim, a registered Republican in California who supported Harris, accused Trump of attempting to forge a dictatorship and aligning himself with authoritarian figures like Putin.
“Isolationism has never been effective,” Kim asserted. “The American populace supports NATO and Ukraine. We should strengthen our relationships with democratic allies in Europe and globally, not with dictators like Putin.”
Another Trump supporter in California, who preferred to remain anonymous, voiced her disapproval of the president’s affinity for Putin, expressing fear that his actions could lead the US into turmoil.
“It has placed the US and the globe in a precarious position,” the voter stated. “I did not agree with his approach toward Europe.”
However, some of Trump’s backers praised his stance on Ukraine and foreign policy in general, claiming that US allies had previously relied too heavily on American financial support.
Peter Jorgenson, a Trump voter from Pennsylvania, characterized the president’s foreign policy as a “win-win” for the US, adding, “I perceive it as a clear signal that the era of handouts is over, and everyone must be vigilant about their own security.”
It remains uncertain whether Trump’s criticism of Ukraine will adversely impact his standing with American voters. A Gallup poll conducted earlier this month, before Trump’s remarks towards Zelenskyy, revealed that his approval rating remained at 45%, virtually unchanged from the previous month.
Zelenskyy continues to enjoy broad support among Americans, with 47% expressing a favorable opinion and 28% an unfavorable one, according to a YouGov/Economist poll conducted this week—though the views are predominantly favorable among Democrats compared to a split opinion among Republicans.
In one instance, Trump’s approach to Putin has already cost him support: a man from Florida, who requested anonymity, mentioned he had previously supported Trump in 2016 and 2020 but would not back him in 2024 due to concerns over alienating allies when their support is crucial.
“Trump seems to have some kind of fascination with Putin,” the voter commented. “He doesn’t seem to grasp that Putin will lie, deceive, and do whatever it takes to maintain power in Russia and succeed on the global stage. Putin aspires to dominate all of Europe and won’t stop there.”
