Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The tower destroyed by the Israeli occupation in Gaza includes media offices, including Al Mayadeen's bureau.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Four fetuses and three premature babies died at Nasser Medical Complex due to malnutrition
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One person was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car in the town of Burj Qalawieh, south Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The first ship of the Maghreb fleet delivering aid to break the siege on Gaza departs from the port of Gammarth in Tunisia.
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out major bombings in the Gaza Strip, the most violent since October 7
Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree: The missile force carried out a major operation using the Palestine 2 ballistic hypersonic missile, hitting several targets in occupied Yafa.

Americans' trust in US military is in downward spiral: Poll

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 2 Dec 2022 20:02
4 Min Read

Preliminary figures show that 48% of participants expressed "a great deal of trust and confidence" in the military, a staggering drop compared to 70% in 2017.

  • x
  • Poll shows majority of Americans have low trust levels in US military
    Poll shows the majority of Americans have low trust levels in the US military

The Ronald Reagan Institute published in November the results of its annual poll on Americans' trust in the US military and, as expected, the results are disappointing. 

Preliminary figures show that 48% of participants expressed "a great deal of trust and confidence" in the military, a staggering drop compared to 70% in 2017.

This could possibly explain why the military missed its recruitment target by 25% this year.

The reasons for this are diverse, but according to poll results, 62% say that politicization of the military leadership is responsible for this - overall comprising 65% of Republican participants, 60% of Democrats, and 60% of Independents.

What this means is that the US army has lost its apolitical status. It consistently advocates for and defends partisan political positions and fortunes.

An apolitical, nonpartisan military is supposedly one of the norms underpinning American democracy and a feature of American military professionalism.

But in light of the recent political rift between Democrats and Republicans, it is clear to see why the US army is no longer serving primary responsibility for maintaining its apolitical character.

Other causes for overall depreciation in public confidence include weak performance/competence of the commander-in-chief, namely the president of the US.

About 60% of respondents identified this to be a determining cause.

On November 9, results of an exit poll conducted for news networks by Edison Research revealed that more than 7 in 10 people indicated they were not happy with the way things are going in the nation, and almost a third said they were not just unhappy but angry about it.

Nearly equal to then-Donald Trump's 45% popularity rating among 2018 midterm voters, Biden's approval rating among voters in this year's election is at 45%. And voters in this election were more than twice as likely to strongly disapprove of Biden as they were to strongly approve of him.

Related News

US military on track to become major global polluter: RS

Outrage in Japan sparks rallies against sexual assault by US troops

Civilian leadership was also listed as another cause, with 55% of respondents saying the performance and competence of the military’s civilian leadership, meaning the Secretary of Defense and civilian leadership at the Department of Defense, decreased their confidence in the military. 

Another reason for confidence depreciation is the failures of wars in Afghanistan and Iraq with 47% of respondents citing it as a reason. 

The US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which are interpreted as embarrassing "failures", were, in reality, purposeful in destroying the civilian and military infrastructures of those two specific countries. 

This is evidenced by the numerous war crimes documents that were gathered by Wikileaks. 

Only 50% of those participants said they have great trust in the military to keep them safe, compared to 57% last year. When asked if the ability to win a future war is a reason for low confidence levels, 52% responded positively.

When asked if the military was performing in a "professional and non-political manner," only 35% responded yes, compared to 40% the year prior.

The survey likewise found that only 13% of Americans aged 18 to 29 are "highly willing" to join the Armed Forces.

Yesterday, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo wrote a tweet blaming the Biden administration over such an outcome.

This is a direct result of the Biden Administration's policies. And it's a threat to our national security.https://t.co/V7Wy7psDfZ

— Mike Pompeo (@mikepompeo) December 1, 2022

The report referred to in Pompeo's tweet and published by Fox News regarding the poll results highlighted that the military was overly politicized and too "woke" - meaning that it undermines military readiness in various ways. It undermines cohesiveness by emphasizing differences based on race, ethnicity, and sex.

Poll results show that half of the respondents expressed concern over "woke" practices in the military, mostly Republicans.

So, is it really the case that Biden is responsible for the politicization of the military institution, as Pompeo stated?

Read more: Biden, Macron pledge 'unwavering' alliance; trade dispute lingers

  • US military forces
  • woke ideology

Most Read

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

American far-right activist Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Australia warned of deadly climate risks in landmark report
Environment

Millions at risk from rising seas, extreme heat in Australia: Report

DPRK leader Kim Jong Un inspects a new weapons factory in undisclosed location, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, August 31, 2025 (AP)
Politics

DPRK defies US, says nuclear state status 'permanently enshrined'

Soldier F faces trial over bloody Sunday killings after 53 years
Miscellaneous

British Soldier F faces trial over Bloody Sunday killings after 53 yrs

Pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrate at the University of Sydney to protest the Israel Hamas war, Wednesday, April 24, 2024 (AP)
Politics

Protest outside ABC decries media silence on Gaza journalist killings

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS