Gallup and With Honor Institute Launch Landmark Study on Public Trust in Veterans

New survey will explore how Americans view veterans and their perceived ability to lead and unify.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Gallup and With Honor Institute (WHI) today announced a new research partnership to understand how Americans perceive military veterans. This initiative marks the first collaboration between Gallup and With Honor Institute, a nonpartisan organization committed to promoting principled veteran leadership in public service. Together, the two organizations are developing a survey to measure how Americans view the role of veterans in society and whether qualities associated with military service translate into broader public trust.

Exploring Americans' Confidence in Military Veterans

The new survey will explore the extent to which Americans believe veterans embody qualities such as strong leadership, a commitment to democratic values and an ability to work across differences. It will also examine whether military experience is viewed as a meaningful qualification for elected office.

At a time when institutional trust is strained and political divisions run deep, this research seeks to answer the question: Do Americans see veterans as uniquely positioned to help lead and unite the country?

"Public trust in major institutions is near historic lows, but veterans continue to earn consistently high confidence from the American public," said Rye Barcott, Founder and President of With Honor Institute. "Our collaboration with Gallup allows us to track that trust over time and across sectors — from government to business to global leadership. By integrating veterans into Gallup's foundational surveys, we're not just gathering data — we're shaping a national conversation about principled veteran leadership rooted in service, integrity and results."

Public Perspectives on Veterans' Role in American Life

This survey is the first in a planned series of studies examining how Americans view veterans across a range of measures, including trust, confidence and ethics. As part of this ongoing collaboration, Gallup will add items about military veterans to its annual Honesty and Ethics of Professions and Confidence in Institutions surveys beginning this year. Gallup and With Honor Institute aim to provide nonpartisan, evidence-based data to inform leadership development, policymaking and national conversations about the influence of military experience in American life.

"This research gives us the opportunity to better understand how Americans view veterans as leaders across civic and community life," said Colonel Michael Tilton, U.S. Army (Ret.), project director at Gallup. "By partnering with the With Honor Institute, we hope to provide objective data that can support meaningful dialogue about veterans' leadership in a number of areas, including those elected to public office."

Initial results will be released in fall 2025.

About With Honor Institute

With Honor Institute (WHI) is a 501 (c) (3) nonpartisan nonprofit whose mission is to fight polarization and strengthen the foundation of our democracy. WHI works to educate, inform, and support principled veterans and servant leaders who value integrity, civility, and courage—the Institute endeavors to bridge divides and foster collaboration to create a more effective and less polarized Congress.

About Gallup

Gallup delivers analytics and advice to help leaders and organizations solve their most pressing problems. Combining more than 80 years of experience with its global reach, Gallup knows more about the attitudes and behaviors of employees, customers, students and citizens than any other organization in the world.

Media Contact:
annie_speer@gallup.com

SOURCE Gallup, Inc.