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The Reagan Institute’s latest National Defense Survey is a wake-up call to anyone still peddling isolationist fantasies: Americans want a strong, leading United States on the world stage, not retreat. The poll shows clear majorities favoring U.S. leadership, military superiority, and deterrence — proof that Reagan’s “peace through strength” still resonates with everyday voters.
Most importantly for conservatives, the survey finds MAGA voters aren’t turning inward; they want America to lead and to be prepared to defend freedom abroad. Far from the caricature of the “isolationist Republican,” a large share of MAGA Republicans support active defense policies and robust deterrence — the grassroots are demanding strength, not surrender.
Support for beefing up the military is at record levels, with roughly four in five Americans backing higher defense spending and overwhelming majorities saying it matters that the U.S. retains the most powerful military on earth. That sense of urgency should be a clarion call to conservatives in Washington: stop squabbling over trivia and fund what actually keeps Americans safe.
The public’s appetite for standing with allies is just as stark — support for sending weapons to Ukraine and reinforcing NATO commitments has climbed, breaking the myth that Americans are uninterested in confronting Putin or China. This isn’t virtue-signaling from elites; it’s mainstream America telling leaders that backing freedom and deterring aggression matters.
On specific capabilities, voters want modern, layered defenses: popular support for missile defense systems, a strong industrial base, and credible commitments to partners like Taiwan shows the electorate understands that deterrence is built on capability and resolve. Conservatives should lean into this consensus and stop apologizing for preparedness.
Yes, the public worries about the national debt and wants fiscal responsibility, but that anxiety does not translate into cutting the tools that keep our liberty intact. If anything, the survey underlines that patriots expect leaders to be fiscally prudent while still prioritizing the instruments of national security. Lawmakers who claim they can deliver both should put a plan on the table — the American people will judge results, not slogans.
This is our moment to reclaim a coherent, muscular national defense policy that reflects the will of the people, not the whims of coastal elites. Patriots in both parties, especially Republicans who campaigned on strength, must press Congress and the White House to turn this mandate into action — fund the military, rebuild the supply chain, and back our allies.
Reagan’s legacy teaches us that freedom is defended, not negotiated away. The survey proves the voters agree, and conservative leaders would be wise to listen to the American people instead of the pundits who profit from division.
