President Donald Trump's long-standing effort to force international allies to pull their own weight is receiving strong backing from the American public, according to a new survey. The poll demonstrates that while a majority of conservatives and MAGA supporters value the NATO alliance, their support is aligned with Trump's doctrine of "peace through strength"—demanding that European nations stop freeloading and invest in their own national security.

The Reagan Institute Summer Survey reveals that 73% of Americans believe staying in NATO is critical to the nation's security and prosperity. This support remains robust among conservatives, with 64% of Republicans and 61% of self-identified MAGA Republicans agreeing. Far from showing a rejection of alliances, the poll confirms that the conservative base remains committed to strong, mutual defense agreements, provided that our partners are equally committed to the cause.

The poll also highlighted a deep-seated American commitment to collective defense. When informed that NATO members are obligated to defend each other under Article 5, 71% of Republicans and 69% of MAGA Republicans said they would support the U.S. using military force to defend a NATO ally under attack, joining 76% of Democrats. This strong show of support proves that conservative voters are prepared to stand by their allies, but they expect those same allies to stand by America when the call comes.

This demand for mutual accountability was the central theme of a White House meeting on Wednesday between President Trump and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. Trump utilized the meeting to criticize several European allies for failing to provide adequate support during the recent U.S. military operation against Iran. Trump's criticism highlights a key frustration among American taxpayers: the U.S. cannot continue to bear the overwhelming share of the security burden while allies fail to assist during critical global operations.

Despite the tough-love approach, Secretary-General Rutte praised President Trump's leadership during the meeting, acknowledging that Trump's pressure has been highly effective in forcing NATO members to increase their defense spending. Rutte also expressed strong support for the president's decisive actions against the Iranian regime's nuclear ambitions.

"I really want to make clear how important it is what you are doing on Iran," Rutte told Trump during their press conference. "This is first of all about the nuclear capability Iran was very near to getting its hands on." Rutte's comments demonstrate that Trump's aggressive stance is reshaping the alliance for the better, driving allies to step up their investments and take global threats seriously.

The Reagan Institute survey was conducted from May 26 to June 3, 2026, among 1,555 respondents nationwide, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points. It used live telephone interviews, online panels, and text-to-web responses, with results weighted using 2023 Census Bureau data to ensure accurate representation across key demographics like age, race, and education.

Significantly, the survey included an oversample of 331 MAGA Republicans under the age of 30 (carrying a 5% margin of error). This focus on the next generation of conservative leaders shows that young patriots are fully on board with a strong foreign policy that prioritizes American national security while maintaining robust, accountable alliances.

The Reagan Institute, a Washington-based policy organization, continues to advocate for the traditional Reagan foreign-policy legacy of "peace through strength." This poll confirms that the American public, and the conservative movement in particular, believes that a strong, accountable NATO is a key component of that enduring doctrine.

Sources: * The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute * North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) * U.S. Census Bureau