Trump’s Foreign Policy Gets a Boost—But Voters Say “Fix Things at Home First”

Improved Approval Abroad, Concerns at Home
President Donald Trump’s foreign policy ratings have improved since his first term, according to a new Rasmussen Reports survey, but most Americans want him to turn his attention to issues closer to home. The poll shows 45% of likely voters rate Trump’s handling of foreign policy as “good” or “excellent,” compared to 43% in 2018. However, 62% of voters believe he should focus more on domestic concerns, such as the economy.

Public Opinion Divided
While Trump’s foreign policy marks have inched higher, partisan lines remain deeply drawn. Eighty percent of Republicans give him favorable ratings, compared with 28% of Democrats and 36% of independents. Two-thirds of Democrats and half of unaffiliated voters say he’s doing a poor job in this area.

A plurality of voters—40%—say Trump is spending the right amount of time on foreign policy, but 28% believe he’s spending too much time abroad. Only 19% think he should devote more time to global issues. Even among those who view his foreign policy favorably, the majority say his focus is balanced.

Domestic Priorities Take Center Stage
Majorities across political groups—70% of Democrats, 54% of Republicans, and 61% of independents—agree that Trump should prioritize domestic challenges over international ones. Economic pressures, inflation, and everyday cost-of-living issues continue to shape voter sentiment as the administration enters the final stretch of the year.

The Rasmussen survey, conducted October 28–30 among 1,157 likely voters, carries a margin of error of ±3 percentage points.