Forty-nine percent of Americans favor allowing transgender people to serve openly in the U.S. military, according to a poll released Wednesday, per The Hill.
Thirty-one percent strongly favor allowing transgender people to serve openly, and 18 percent somewhat favor it.
Trump last Friday signed a memorandum that said transgender individuals with a history of "gender dysphoria," which was defined as "those who may require substantial medical treatment, including through medical drugs or surgery," are disqualified from military service "except under certain limited circumstances."
It added the secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security "may exercise their authority to implement any appropriate policies concerning military service by transgender individuals," and said transgender troops who are currently in the U.S. military may remain in the ranks although the Pentagon could require them to serve according to their gender at birth.
The poll, conducted by The Economist and YouGov, queried 1,500 U.S. adults between March 25-27.
It also found:
- 34 percent approve of Trump’s ban on transgender people serving in the military, compared to 48 percent who disapprove.
- 27 percent approve of the way Trump is handling foreign trade, compared to 47 who do not.
- 34 percent think free trade agreements have been a good thing for the U.S., while 31 percent say it is a bad thing.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.