People in the United States consistently believe that the Republican Party is more likely to protect the country from external threats, with 57 percent of respondents in a 2023 survey selecting the GOP. The Democratic Party was selected by 35 percent of respondents in that same year.
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Public confidence in political parties to protect the country from external threats in the United States from 2005 to 2023, by political party
Characteristic
Democratic Party
Republican Party
2023
35%
57%
2022
37%
57%
2021
39%
54%
2020
46%
50%
2019
44%
50%
2018
41%
47%
2017
38%
51%
2016
40%
47%
2015
36%
52%
2014
32%
55%
2013
39%
45%
2012
45%
45%
2011
38%
49%
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Share of respondents37%37%42%42%47%47%42%42%42%42%38%38%38%38%45%45%39%39%32%32%36%36%40%40%38%38%41%41%44%44%46%46%39%39%37%37%35%35%48%48%44%44%42%42%49%49%49%49%51%51%49%49%45%45%45%45%55%55%52%52%47%47%51%51%47%47%50%50%50%50%54%54%57%57%57%57%Democratic PartyRepublican Party2005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023
30%35%40%45%50%55%60%
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Surveys held in September of each year.
Original question: "Looking ahead for the next few years, which political party do you think will do a better job of protecting the country from international terrorism and military threats?"
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Gallup. (October 3, 2023). Public confidence in political parties to protect the country from external threats in the United States from 2005 to 2023, by political party [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved July 15, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1078514/confidence-political-parties-protect-us/
Gallup. "Public confidence in political parties to protect the country from external threats in the United States from 2005 to 2023, by political party." Chart. October 3, 2023. Statista. Accessed July 15, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1078514/confidence-political-parties-protect-us/
Gallup. (2023). Public confidence in political parties to protect the country from external threats in the United States from 2005 to 2023, by political party. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: July 15, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1078514/confidence-political-parties-protect-us/
Gallup. "Public Confidence in Political Parties to Protect The Country from External Threats in The United States from 2005 to 2023, by Political Party." Statista, Statista Inc., 3 Oct 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1078514/confidence-political-parties-protect-us/
Gallup, Public confidence in political parties to protect the country from external threats in the United States from 2005 to 2023, by political party Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1078514/confidence-political-parties-protect-us/ (last visited July 15, 2025)
Public confidence in political parties to protect the country from external threats in the United States from 2005 to 2023, by political party [Graph], Gallup, October 3, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1078514/confidence-political-parties-protect-us/
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