A CBS News/YouGov poll conducted Sept. 3–5, 2025, of 2,385 U.S. adults finds deep partisan divisions over President Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., and the possibility of sending them to other cities: Republicans generally support the move as a crime-fighting measure, while a majority of Americans worry it threatens civil liberties and would not reduce crime.
Key Takeaways
- Republicans and Trump’s political base largely favor National Guard deployments and say they reduce crime and increase personal safety.
- Most Americans oppose expanded deployments and express concerns about rights and freedoms being weakened.
- Opinions align more with party identification than with geography; urban residents tend to oppose deployments to other cities while rural residents are more supportive.
- Many who believe Guard presence can reduce crime still suspect political motives behind the president’s actions.
- Large majorities say both the president and local leaders should have authority to deploy the National Guard; very few endorse only presidential authority.
- Separately, the poll finds Republicans prioritize immigration and deportation over inflation when evaluating the president, and Republican approval rises above 90% within his base.
- On economic items, four in 10 Americans report buying fewer goods because of tariffs; seven in 10 Republicans say consumers should pay more to support trade policies.
- Two-thirds of Americans say President Trump is seeking to increase presidential powers; most favor keeping the Federal Reserve independent.
Verified Facts
The CBS News/YouGov survey interviewed 2,385 adults nationwide from Sept. 3–5, 2025. The sample was weighted to reflect U.S. adult demographics and the 2024 presidential vote; the poll’s margin of sampling error is ±2.5 percentage points.
On the question of deploying National Guard troops to Washington and potentially other cities, the poll reports a clear partisan split: supporters are concentrated in the Republican and MAGA base and view deployments as crime deterrents that make them feel safer, while opponents — a national majority — say deployments would undermine civil liberties and doubt their effectiveness at reducing crime.
Geography matters less than partisanship. City residents are more likely to oppose sending troops to other urban areas; rural residents are more likely to favor it. Still, many respondents in both groups frame their view through partisan lenses rather than purely local safety concerns.
Related political measures in the poll show Republican voters currently rating Mr. Trump more favorably on immigration and deportation than on the economy or inflation; that emphasis corresponds with a recent uptick in his approval within his party to over 90% and a modest two-point rise in his overall approval.
Context & Impact
Debate over National Guard deployments taps into broader questions about executive authority and civil liberties. The results suggest the president’s actions may reinforce his standing among supporters by shifting focus to immigration and crime, while alienating voters who prioritize civil rights and constitutional limits.
Economic issues remain a drag for many voters: the poll finds measurable consumer effects from tariffs and declining enthusiasm for that policy outside the Republican base. Calls for an independent Federal Reserve also persist, with MAGA-aligned Republicans more open to greater presidential influence than other GOP subgroups.
For policymakers and political strategists, the poll implies that visible security measures can mobilize core supporters but are unlikely to win over broad majorities concerned about rights and political motives. That dynamic could shape messaging and decisions about further deployments ahead of upcoming political contests.
Official Statements
The CBS News/YouGov survey reports 2,385 U.S. adults were interviewed Sept. 3–5, 2025; the sample was weighted to reflect national demographics and the 2024 presidential vote.
CBS News/YouGov
Unconfirmed
- Whether deploying the National Guard causally reduces urban crime rates in the long term remains undetermined by this poll.
- Motivations attributed to the president (crime prevention vs. political signaling) are perceptions reported by respondents, not independently verified facts.
Bottom Line
The CBS News/YouGov poll shows that National Guard deployments are politically polarizing: they reinforce support among Republicans while prompting civil-liberty worries among a national majority. The findings suggest such moves can bolster core approval but carry risks of broader public backlash and legal controversy.