Crime has been a top issue for Americans the last few election cycles and Democrats have been seen as notoriously weak on the issue. However, polling is mixed on how Americans view President Donald Trump’s push for military intervention in the major American cities.
By The Numbers:
Fifty-eight percent of Americans believe the president should only deploy troops to areas with external threats. That includes 51% of Republicans, 72% of Democrats, and 52% of “other.” Americans also universally believe the U.S. military should remain politically neutral.
The numbers decline for deployment when a governor objects. Only 37% of Americans believe that the president should be able to send troops into a state when that state’s governor objects. The parties are widely split on this, not surprisingly. Seventy-percent of Republicans say the president should override a governor’s objections, but only 13% of Democrats and 28% of “others” agree.
The Bottom Line: There is no question that Americans want a solution to crack down on crime. Voters made that clear when they voted for President Trump and Republicans around the country who vowed to close the border, deport criminal illegal immigrants, and keep communities safe. While President Trump’s swift and strong action addressing crime in some of the country’s most dangerous cities may help the president’s approval on the issue in the short term, if enough governors ask the Administration not to override their state authority, it could be a political loser in the long run.
