Americans on US Participation in the UN and ICC
The Trump administration has worked to reshape the US’ relationship with the international community, including by issuing an executive order to “reevaluate our commitment” to the United Nations, withdraw the US from the World Health Organizations, and impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC). The American public, however, does not support these efforts to remove the US from global organizations or punish those it disagrees with.
The US Working with the UN
Respondents were presented a briefing on the United Nations and its main agencies, including that the US funds a share of the UN’s work about equal to its share of the world economy.
Asked how much the US should be working with the UN and its agencies in general, 84% said the US should participate either more (52%) or about the same as it has been (32%). This included 73% of Republicans (more 45%, same 29%) and 93% of Democrats (more 63%, same 30%). Nationally, just 16% said the US should participate less.
THE US PARTICIPATING IN UN AGENCIES
Respondents evaluated US participation in seven prominent UN agencies and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). For each, they were informed of its main activities and its budget, for which they were informed that the US pays a percent roughly equal to its share of the world economy. For several of the agencies, respondents evaluated arguments for and against US participation.
UN Department of Peace Operations (Peacekeeping)
Respondents were informed that the UN Department of Peace Operations “works to promote and monitor peace agreements between parties in conflict. UN peacekeeping operations can only take place if the main parties of the conflict agree to the presence of the peacekeepers.” They were presented a briefing on its main peacekeeping activities, the number of active peacekeeping operations, and that the US contributes, “a small number of military personnel,” and, “provides military intelligence to the operations.”
The US participating in the UN Department of Peace Operations, which they were informed includes US participation with its peacekeeping activities, was favored by 81%, including 76% of Republicans and 89% of Democrats.
World Health Organization
Respondents were informed that the World Health Organization has a mission to “improve health globally,” and were informed of its main activities, including “tracking and studying diseases around the world,” “helping countries prepare for and respond to health emergencies, like pandemics,” and, “supporting vaccination programs and efforts to eliminate diseases.”
The US participating in the World Health Organization was favored by 79%, including 70% of Republicans and 91% of Democrats.
World Food Program
Respondents were informed that the World Food Program has a mission to, “reduce hunger and save lives.” They were told its main tasks, including “delivering emergency food aid to people in crisis situations,” and “helping countries and regions to build food systems that are resilient.” They were also informed that, “besides paying its dues, the US contributes food directly, which it purchases from US farmers.”
The US participating in the World Food Program was favored by 81%, including 78% of Republicans and 88% of Democrats.
UN International Children’s Fund
Respondents were informed that the UN International Children’s Fund has a mission to, “help provide children with healthcare, education, and clean water, and protection from violence and exploitation (such as child labor.)”
The US participating in the UN International Children’s Fund was favored by 83%, including 79% of Republicans and 88% of Democrats.
UN Development Program
Respondents were informed that the UN Development Program has a mission to, “help countries find ways to reduce poverty and promote long-term economic development,” and that it, “offers technical help and advice for governments, and funding for non-profit organizations,” for a range of projects, including clean energy, workforce development, education, and democracy.
UN Environment Program
Respondents were informed that the UN Environment Program has a mission to, “protect the environment and promote the safe and sustainable use of natural resources,” and that it, works with governments and non-governmental organizations on projects to increase clean energy production, create environmental regulations, and study global environmental issues.
The US participating in the UN Environment Program was favored by 73%, including 63% of Republicans and 85% of Democrats.
UN Refugee Agency
Respondents were informed that the UN Refugee Agency has a mission to, “to help protect and support people who have been forced to flee their homes due to military conflict, violence, or persecution,” and that it, works with governments and non-governmental organizations to provide emergency aid to refugees, find long-term solutions for refugees, and ensure refugees have legal rights.
The US participating in the UN Refugee Agency was favored by 70%, including 59% of Republicans and 83% of Democrats.
International Atomic Energy Agency
Respondents were informed that the International Atomic Energy Agency,“ is an independent organization that works with the United Nations” and has a mission to, “help nations use nuclear energy safely and to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.” They were told its main tasks, including setting international safety standards for nuclear material, inspecting nuclear facilities, and reporting to the UN Security Council about nations’ nuclear activities.
The US participating in the International Atomic Energy Agency was favored by 78%, including 77% of Republicans and 83% of Democrats.
US PARTICIPATION WITH THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT
US Joining the ICC
Respondents were informed that the International Criminal Court, “investigates and prosecutes individuals – usually high-ranking government or military leaders – suspected of ordering a military force or police to commit,” war crimes, genocide, and other crimes against humanity. They were presented a briefing on how the ICC indicts and tries individuals, including the responsibilities of its member nations to detain indicted individuals on their soil, and several examples of leaders who have been indicted and tried by the ICC. Among those example were the Prime Minister of Israel and senior leaders of Hamas.
Asked whether the US should join the ICC, which they were informed would impose a responsibility on the US to arrest foreign leaders on US soil who the ICC issued arrest warrants for, 62% favored joining, including 57% of Republicans and 72% of Democrats, but independents were divided (50%, oppose 49%).
US Sanctioning the ICC
Respondents were presented a proposal for the US, when it disagrees with a decision by the ICC, such as an indictment of a US ally, to sanction, “individuals who work for or provide any help to the ICC – including judges and prosecutors – as well as their family members, by freezing their assets held in the US and blocking them from entering the US.”
They were presented three options for what the US should do in the case that the ICC issues an arrest warrant for a leader of a US ally: take no action, publicly criticize the ICC, or sanction its staff and their family members. A majority of 71% said the US should take no action (46%) or publicly criticize the ICC (25%). Majorities of both Republicans (68%) and Democrats (72%) took those positions. Just 29% favored the US sanctioning the ICC (Republicans 32%, Democrats 27%).
MORE INFORMATION
About the Survey
This public consultation survey was conducted by the Program for Public Consultation at the University of Maryland. Respondents went through an online “policymaking simulation” in which they are provided briefings and arguments for and against each proposal, which are reviewed for accuracy and balance. The content was written using the assistance of LLMs. All Americans are invited to go through the same policymaking simulation as the survey sample.
The survey was fielded June 10-16, 2025 with 1,209 adults nationally at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy. Samples were obtained from multiple online opt-in panels, including Cint, Dynata and Prodege. Sample collection and quality control was managed by QuantifyAI under the direction of the Program for Public Consultation. Samples were pre-stratified and weighted by age, race, gender, education, income, marital status, and home ownership to match the general adult population. The survey was offered in both English and Spanish. The confidence interval is +/- 3.0% and the response rate was 7.8%.
About the Program for Public Consultation
The Program for Public Consultation (PPC) at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy, develops and conducts public consultation surveys, seeking to improve democratic governance by consulting representative samples of citizens on key public policy issues. It shares its findings with officials in government, the media, other academics, and the general public.