MAJOR OPINION’S Q1 2026 VETERAN SURVEY RESULTS
What do America’s Veterans actually think about the state of the country? Major Opinion’s Q1 2026 Survey goes beyond the headlines to reveal the true pulse of the veteran community. From a 60% supermajority identifying a clear frontrunner for 2028, to a surprising shift in how veterans view domestic threats versus foreign foes, explore the full results to see how today’s veterans are redefining military culture, election integrity, and the future of specialized healthcare.
Click to download full survey results.
KEY INSIGHTS & TAKEAWAYS
2028 Frontrunner: Veterans Rally Behind JD Vance with 60% Support
Survey data indicates a consolidated Republican base within the community, as the Vice President maintains a commanding 30-point lead over potential Democratic challengers like Governor Gavin Newsom and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Trump’s Resilient Base: Over 70% of Veterans Approve of Current Job Performance
Donald Trump maintains strong support within the veteran community, with 72.1% of respondents stating they approve of the way he is handling his job. This support includes a solid 45.9% who say they “very strongly” approve of his presidency.
Enemies Within: Majority of Veterans See Civil Division as Dangerous as China
In a significant shift in threat assessment, over 53% of respondents now rank domestic political polarization as an existential risk equal to the geopolitical threats posed by foreign adversaries like China and Russia.
When asked to identify the nation’s biggest geopolitical enemy, 45.4% of veterans named China, placing it far ahead of Russia at 20.8%. Other nations such as Iran and North Korea were viewed as primary threats by only about 10% and 5% of respondents, respectively.
Breaking the Brass Ceiling: 2 in 3 Veterans Back Women in Combat
Reflecting a modernization of traditional military views, a decisive 64% majority now supports women serving in combat roles, signaling that the community increasingly prioritizes merit and capability over historical role restrictions.
Veterans Split on Whether Diversity Initiatives Harm Military Lethality, Split on Transgender Service
The community is notably divided on the impact of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, with approximately 33.4% agreeing that they come at the expense of combat training. Conversely, nearly 33% of veterans disagree with that sentiment, while the largest single group remains neutral on the issue. Likewise, when it comes to transgender service, Veterans are split.
The Cool Factor: Marines Win the “Cool” Factor While Army Takes the Lead on Benefits
When asked which branch is the “coolest,” the Marine Corps (24.5%) took the top spot, narrowly beating out the Army (22.2%) and the Air Force (20.4%).Despite the Army being perceived as having the “best benefits” (34.3%), the Marines maintain their status as the most prestigious brand in the veteran psyche.
Majority of Veterans Rally Behind ICE Enforcement
In light of recent immigration enforcement reports, 55.7% of veterans express support for ICE agents, with 36.4% identifying as “strong” supporters. In contrast, approximately 35% of the community opposes the agency’s current efforts.
Future of the VA: Half of Veterans Prefer to Keep VA The Same
Nearly half of all veterans (48.6%) prefer to keep the VA as a government-run provider rather than switching to a private-sector voucher system.Specialized Care: An additional 30.1% favor a hybrid model that keeps the VA for specialized care (like PTSD or amputations), while only 21.3% want a full private-sector voucher system.
Veterans are United on Voter ID
Among Veterans there is a massive consensus on election integrity, with approximately 90% of respondents support strict requirements for voting, with 56.9% backing standard photo ID and 33.2% demanding full proof of citizenship to register.
Click to download full survey results.