# Americans say trade and economic ties drive international politics most

Canonical page: https://data.verasight.io/politics/americans-say-trade-and-economic-ties-drive-international-politics-most/

> Indexed question in Politics.

## Reading

More Americans point to trade and economic relations than to any other factor when asked what drives international politics, with 74% naming it in an April 2025 Verasight survey.

Military power follows at 43%, 31% cite promoting ideology, and 14% point to some other factor.

## Topline

What factors are the primary motivators of decision making in international politics?

Americans say trade and economic ties drive international politics most.

Respondents could select more than one option, so shares may sum to more than 100%.

- Trade/Economic Relations: 73.8%
- Military Power: 43.2%
- Promoting Ideology: 31.4%
- Other: 14.1%

## Methodology

- Mode: Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
- Population: US adults age 18+
- Field dates: 2025-04-09 → 2025-04-15
- Base (unweighted): 1,000
- Margin of error: +/- 3.5%
- Module: society
- Sponsor: Verasight
- Weight variable: weight
- Weighting targets: age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status

## Source

- Canonical question URL: [https://verasight-mpsa-2025.tiiny.co#primary-motivators-of-international-political-decision-making](https://verasight-mpsa-2025.tiiny.co#primary-motivators-of-international-political-decision-making)

## Citation

Verasight MPSA Omnibus Survey #2025-026, fielded April 9-15, 2025, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.5%.

Canonical question URL: [https://verasight-mpsa-2025.tiiny.co#primary-motivators-of-international-political-decision-making](https://verasight-mpsa-2025.tiiny.co#primary-motivators-of-international-political-decision-making)