Veterans and Military family members give bad news to Trump

A poll commissioned by Common Defense, a progressive veterans advocacy group, found that about half of the service members, veterans and military family members surveyed disapprove of President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and that two-thirds believe decisions affecting troops are being made for political gain.

The results come from an advocacy group that endorses Democratic candidates, and the poll’s design limits how far the findings can be generalized. Details on both are below.

What the poll found

On Trump and Hegseth:

• Both had about 50% disapproval overall. [CHECK: approval figures from the topline, to confirm whether either is “underwater.”]
• Among active-duty respondents, 54% disapproved of Hegseth; among military family members, 64% did.

On politicization:

• 67% said decisions affecting service members are being made for political gain rather than mission readiness, including 63% of Republican respondents.
• 79% said veterans and military families are being left behind by politicians and society, including 72% of Republican respondents.
• Among active-duty respondents, 53% said the military becoming more politicized makes them want to leave sooner, and 5% said it makes them want to stay longer.

On other issues:

• 74% disapproved of the job Congress is doing.
• 63% said the country is on the wrong track.
• 55% opposed using the military to monitor polling places, while 38% supported it.
• 48% opposed Operation Epic Fury, the U.S. military operation against Iran, and 55% said Congress should investigate deployment lengths and troops’ health, safety and welfare during the war.

On the parties: 47% said the Republican Party does a better job communicating with the military, compared with 27% for Democrats.