Poll Shows More Americans Consider Russia Enemy of U.S.

A new NBC News poll has shown that most Americans, 68 percent, see Russia as unfriendly or an enemy of the United States, a 9-percent increase from a year ago.

Back then, 59 percent said the same of Russia, which clearly indicates that American attitudes towards Russia have worsened under President Donald Trump’s administration. Special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Moscow has likewise contributed to such a perception.

The poll was carried out shortly before President Trump held a joint news conference with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, saying once again that he believed Russia didn’t meddle in the 2016 election. He came under harsh bipartisan criticism for refusing to back the U.S. intelligence community’s unanimous conclusion that Russian actors interfered in the election.

A day later Trump changed his remarks, claiming he meant to say otherwise.

Among Democrats and Democratic-leaning respondents, 47 percent believe Russia poses the greatest immediate threat to the U.S., while this figure is only 10 percent among Republicans and Republican-leaners.

Percentages are high among members of both parties regarding the perception of Russia as unfriendly or as an enemy of the country. Some 81 percent of Democrats consider Russia unfriendly or an enemy, and 61 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning respondents feel the same way.

Among independents, these numbers vary. Namely, 24 percent of them said Russia was the United States’ greatest threat and 64 percent said they believed Russia was unfriendly or an enemy.

The poll also showed fears of cyber attacks are increasing among respondents, while fears of outright war are lessening. Forty-five percent of Americans think cyber attacks pose the greatest threat to America, up from 31 percent nine months ago.

The only area where percentages decreased was American’s worry the U.S. will engage in a major war in the next four years. Nine months ago 72 percent feared that was a possibility, compared to 59 percent now.