SHOCK POLL: Trump Surges Past Biden on Ukraine as War Support Crumbles
Paul Riverbank, 3/5/2025 In a remarkable shift that challenges conventional wisdom, American public opinion has dramatically pivoted on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Trump's rising approval ratings over Biden, coupled with increasing war fatigue and softening attitudes toward Russia, signal a profound reassessment of U.S. foreign policy priorities ahead of 2024.
The American political landscape is witnessing a remarkable shift that few saw coming. I've spent decades covering U.S. foreign policy, but the recent transformation in public attitudes toward the Russia-Ukraine conflict stands out as particularly striking.
Let's cut through the noise and look at what's actually happening here. Trump, despite – or perhaps because of – his confrontational stance on Ukraine aid, has managed to flip the script on Biden. The polling tells an extraordinary story: while Biden struggles with approval ratings 22 points underwater on Ukraine policy, Trump maintains a modest positive rating. As a veteran observer of political polling, I can tell you this kind of reversal doesn't happen often.
But here's what fascinates me most: it's not just about presidential politics. The American public's entire worldview on this conflict seems to be undergoing a fundamental shift. When Gallup tells us that half of Americans would now accept a resolution that leaves Russia holding captured territory – up from less than a third in 2022 – we're seeing something that goes beyond simple war fatigue.
I witnessed a similar pattern during the latter stages of Vietnam, though the circumstances were markedly different. Public opinion can shift gradually, then suddenly. The recent CBS News YouGov numbers hammer this home – the percentage of Americans viewing Russia as an enemy has plummeted from 64% to 34% in just one year. That's not a trend; that's a sea change.
The White House meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy perfectly encapsulates this new reality. While the confrontation might have shocked traditional foreign policy experts, it resonated with a substantial portion of the American electorate. Having covered countless diplomatic encounters, I can tell you this wasn't your typical protocol breach – it was political theater that played exactly as intended.
JD Vance's recent comments about European military contributions, though controversial, tap into a growing sentiment I'm hearing from voters across the political spectrum. Americans are increasingly questioning not just this specific conflict, but the broader architecture of our international commitments.
What's particularly noteworthy is Zelenskyy's evolving approach. His recent statement about seeking negotiations shows a clear recognition of changing political winds in Washington. I've seen many foreign leaders adapt to shifting American sentiment, but rarely with such stark implications for global security arrangements.
As we head toward the 2024 election, these attitudes will likely prove decisive. But make no mistake – we're not just seeing a temporary shift in opinion polls. We're witnessing what might be a fundamental reassessment of America's role in global conflicts, one that could reshape our foreign policy for decades to come.
