Half of a military-connected sample said they disapproved of President Trump’s leadership, and nearly as many said the same about Pete Hegseth, according to a new poll.
Story Snapshot
- About 50% disapproved of Trump’s performance; 47% approved.
- About 50% disapproved of Hegseth; 45% approved.
- Two-thirds said decisions were for political gain; over half said politicization pushed them to leave sooner.
- Survey polled 731 active-duty, veterans, and military families; margin of error about four points.
What The Poll Found And Why It Matters
Common Defense fielded an online survey of 731 people tied to the military. The group included active-duty service members, veterans, and military families. About half gave Trump a thumbs down on his job as commander in chief, while 47% approved. Hegseth drew a similar response, with about half disapproving and about 45% approving. The sponsor reported a margin of error near four points. The poll also asked about politicization in the ranks and its impact on retention.
Two stand-out figures add context. Sixty-seven percent said military decisions under Trump were made for political gain. Fifty-three percent said politicization made them want to separate sooner from service. Those numbers go beyond a simple like-or-dislike of leaders. They hint at a climate problem where daily decisions feel tied to politics. When people in uniform sense that, unit trust and mission focus can suffer. The services cannot afford doubt when lives and readiness are on the line.
Who Was Asked And What That Means For Takeaways
The survey combined three groups: current troops, veterans, and family members. That approach yields a snapshot of the wider military community, not just one slice. It also means the “veterans only” results are not clear in public summaries. The article describing the poll notes online recruitment, an older and more Republican-leaning mix, and a four-point margin of error. Those facts suggest caution in generalizing to all veterans or all active-duty service members.
Even with those limits, the pattern deserves attention. A near-even split with a slight negative tilt says many who served or still serve are divided on leadership. That divide tracks with broader reporting that concerns about politicization have grown in recent years. Other surveys have found that many in uniform see politics in military life and worry about it. The exact levels vary by method, but the theme repeats across sources and time.
How Politicization Connects To Morale And Retention
Most Americans expect the military to stay above day-to-day politics. The chain of command must carry out civilian orders, but the force depends on fair standards and trust. When respondents say choices look political, they also report lower desire to stay in. That link is common sense. People will not risk their lives for leaders they think put optics over outcomes. The United States needs clear missions, steady guidance, and a wall between campaign talk and combat tasks.
President Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth are underwater in their approval ratings with veterans and military members, according to a poll conducted by Common Defense.https://t.co/MtiknGoqQP
— abc27 News (@abc27News) November 3, 2026
Some outlets framed the findings as a full-blown morale crisis. Others stressed the close split and noted the sample makeup. Both angles spring from the same data, but the practical point is the same. Leaders must reduce the sense of politics in the force. That starts with plain mission statements, limited culture-war detours, and accountability for results. Conservative common sense says measure performance, cut bloat, and keep warfighting first.
What To Watch Next
Future polling can break results apart by group: active-duty, veterans, and families. Clear wording and public tables would help the public and Congress understand the picture. Side-by-side results can show if concerns come more from current troops or from those who left service years ago. Replication using large, probability-based samples of veterans would also test how sensitive the findings are to method. The goal is not headline heat; it is policy light that helps fix recruiting and retention.
Sources:
thehill.com, alternet.org, newrepublic.com, houstonherald.com
