More Americans support expanding the nuclear arsenal than oppose it
Core finding
A plurality of Americans (40%) support expanding the U.S. nuclear arsenal, including 20% who strongly support it, according to a March 2026 Verasight survey.
About a third (32%) oppose it, while 20% are neutral and 7% are unsure.
Topline scale
More Americans support expanding the nuclear arsenal than oppose it.
Many experts believe that China is rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal and will have over 1,000 nuclear weapons by 2030, a few years from now. Given this, do you support or oppose expanding the US nuclear arsenal?
n = 1,000 · Mar 6–16, 2026 · MoE ±3.5%
Methodology
Full 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 | Mar 6–16, 2026 |
| Base (unweighted) | 1,000 |
| Margin of error | ±3.5% |
| Module | Module 3: Elections, Civic Life, & the Environment |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- reports.verasight.io/r/omnibus-2026-044
Given this, do you support or oppose expanding the US nuclear arsenal?
Cite this question
Verasight Client Omnibus Survey #2026-044, fielded March 6-16, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.5%.