Americans Largely Reject Trump's National Guard Deployment Amidst Protests, New Poll Reveals

A striking new poll from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reveals a significant and bipartisan opposition among Americans to President Donald Trump's use of the National Guard and federal agents to quell protests in U.S. cities. The findings underscore a clear public discomfort with the federal government's aggressive approach to managing civil unrest, particularly in the wake of deployments like the controversial intervention in Portland, Oregon.

According to the survey, a substantial two-thirds of Americans – 66% – express disapproval of the National Guard's deployment to cities to handle protests.

This sentiment is not confined to one political ideology. While Democrats predictably show overwhelming opposition at 85%, a notable majority of Republicans, 55%, also disapprove of this particular application of the National Guard. This rare alignment across the political spectrum highlights a broad consensus against federal militarization in local protest scenarios.

Diving deeper into demographics, the poll indicates that Black Americans are particularly critical of these deployments, with 81% expressing disapproval.

This contrasts with 63% of white Americans and 64% of Hispanic Americans. The heightened concern among Black communities likely stems from historical experiences with law enforcement and ongoing dialogues about racial justice and police brutality.

The poll also sheds light on public perception of the protests themselves.

A majority of Americans, 54%, convey approval of the protests that have swept the nation, largely driven by calls for racial justice and police reform following the killing of George Floyd. Only 30% disapprove, with 15% holding a neutral stance. Again, there are clear demographic divides: 79% of Black Americans and 78% of Democrats approve of the protests, whereas 59% of Republicans express disapproval.

Furthermore, the survey explored opinions on police conduct, a central theme of many demonstrations.

A significant 62% of Americans believe that police officers are more likely to use excessive force against Black individuals than against white individuals. This belief is held by a majority across racial lines, though it is strongest among Black respondents. Only 34% believe police are equally likely to use excessive force against people of all races, and a mere 3% think police are less likely to use excessive force against Black people.

The overall findings present a challenging landscape for the Trump administration's "law and order" rhetoric.

As public opinion leans against the aggressive federal response to protests and acknowledges systemic issues within policing, the President's approval rating among registered voters stood at 38% in the same poll, underscoring a disconnect between his policies and broader public sentiment.