Trust on Trial: How U.S. Foreign Policy Eroded Public Trust

Authors

• Rawan Al-SamarrieFollow

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Abstract

Public trust in the U.S. government has declined sharply over the past several decades, falling from roughly 75% in the late 1950s to almost 15% today. This project examines how major U.S. foreign policy decisions, specifically during the Vietnam War, the post-9/11 Global War on Terror, and the ongoing conflict in Palestine, have contributed to this erosion of trust. Through qualitative analysis of historical records, public opinion data, and scholarly assessments of U.S. military actions and their global consequences, the research identifies recurring patterns in how government narratives, media framing, and revelations of human rights violations shape public perception. Findings indicate that each conflict initially gained broad public support through appeals to national security, democracy, or moral obligation. However, as evidence of government misinformation, strategic failure, or civilian harm emerged, public confidence declined sharply and often permanently. The Vietnam War demonstrated the first instance in which televised violence and government contradictions fractured national unity; the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan revealed the consequences of intelligence failures, prolonged occupation, and lack of accountability; and U.S. support for Israel during the current crisis in Gaza has intensified public skepticism, particularly among younger Americans, due to inconsistencies between stated American values and foreign policy actions. Together, these cases show that foreign military engagement is one of the most consistent predictors of long-term declines in institutional trust. Understanding this pattern is essential for evaluating the future of U.S. global leadership, rebuilding democratic legitimacy, and assessing how transparency, accountability, and public engagement can mitigate distrust. The paper highlights the need for a re-examination of U.S. foreign policy practices to prevent further erosion of public confidence and to promote ethically coherent international action.

Publication Date

2025

Disciplines

American Politics | International Relations | Policy History, Theory, and Methods | Political Science | Public Affairs | Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration | Public Policy | United States History

Current Academic Year

Junior

Faculty Advisor/Mentor

Joshua Barton

Rights

© The Author(s)