Americans are increasingly skeptical of former President Donald Trump’s ability to manage the war in Ukraine, according to a new national survey that highlights deep partisan divides and shifting public sentiment more than four years into the conflict.
A Pew Research Center report released April 23 found that just 32% of U.S. adults say they are very or somewhat confident in Trump’s decision-making on the Russia-Ukraine war, down from 40% in August 2025.
The drop in confidence spans both major political parties, though views remain sharply divided. About 60% of Republicans say they have confidence in Trump’s handling of the war, compared to just 7% of Democrats.
Overall, roughly two-thirds of Americans — 66% — say they are not confident in Trump’s ability to make sound decisions on the conflict, placing it among the lowest-rated foreign policy issues tested in the survey.
The findings come as Americans remain split on the broader question of U.S. support for Ukraine. About 29% say the U.S. is not providing enough support, 26% say the current level is about right, and 20% believe the country is providing too much assistance.
Partisan differences are especially pronounced on that issue. Half of Democrats say the U.S. is not doing enough to support Ukraine, compared with just 11% of Republicans.
Despite political divisions, views of Russia remain broadly negative across the U.S. About 83% of Americans hold an unfavorable opinion of the country, and roughly half view it as an enemy rather than a competitor or partner.
The survey also found that 54% of Americans consider the war personally important, though that figure has declined slightly in recent years. Democrats are more likely than Republicans to say the conflict matters to them.
Researchers say the data reflect a complex and evolving public outlook, shaped by prolonged conflict, political polarization, and changing perceptions of U.S. involvement abroad.
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