Obama's farewell salute from the military as poll shows most are unhappy with his years as commander-in-chief - and less than a third voted for Hillary

  • More than half the troops have an unfavorable opinion of President Obama's military leadership, according to a new poll
  • The survey says 49 per cent of service members voted for Donald Trump
  • Just 36 registered support for Obama's conduct as commander in chief
  • A majority said the U.S. troop drawdown in Afghanistan has made the nation less safe 
  • Just 29 per cent backed Hillary Clinton 
  • Election Day exit polls had active duty military breaking for Clinton 

By Geoff Earle, Deputy U.s. Political Editor For Dailymail.com

Published: 17:08 EST, 9 January 2017 | Updated: 06:15 EST, 10 January 2017

President Obama is leaving the White House with majority disapproval among members of the military for his role as commander in chief, according to a new survey at the tail end of his presidency.

Obama's move steep reduction of U.S. forces stationed in Afghanistan after a troop surge, and his withdrawal of forces from Iraq in keeping with a status of forces agreement, doesn't appear to have carried support in the the military.

Forty three per cent said the U.S. should deploy more troops to combat zones, while 32 per cent favored reductions, according to the poll by Military Times and the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University.

President Obama has a 52 percent unfavorable rating in the survey among military members as the commander in chief prepares to leave office

President-elect Donald Trump's campaigned on a call to make 'America first' and avoid overseas engagements.

The poll said 49 per cent backed President-elect Donald Trump in the campaign, compared to just 29 per cent for Hillary Clinton. Each touted their support among military brass during the campaign.

Election exit polls had Clinton beating Trump among military members by 50 to 44 per cent, while Trump beat her among veterans 60 to 34 per cent, CNN reported.

Obama got a 52 percent unfavorable rating in the survey, AOL reported. He had an 18 per cent favorable rating with 18.4 per cent rating him somewhat favorably.

Majorities of U.S. troops said drawdowns in Iraq and Afghanistan made the U.S less safe. US military personnel attend a memorial ceremony in honour of the 15th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington DC, at the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) headquarters in Kabul on September 11, 2016

Just 29 per cent of military members said in the survey they had backed Democrat Hillary Clinton for president

Forty nine per cent of troops surveyed said they voted for Donald Trump

Amid the insertion of U.S. forces back into Iraq and into Syria to combat ISIS, 59 per cent said the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq has made the U.S. less safe.

Fifty four percent said the same about the drawdown in Afghanistan. 

President Barack Obama greets troops after holding a "Worldwide Troop Talk," a town hall with members of the military around the world broadcast from Fort Meade in Maryland, September 11, 2015, on the 14th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the United States

 Obama addressed U.S. troops for what may have been the last time at Marine Base Hawaii while vacationing in Hawaii over Christmas.

 'I just want all of you to know that it has been the privilege of my life to serve as your Commander in Chief,' he said, speaking alongside First Lady Michelle Obama.

Obama noted that troops are serving in dangerous, remote places like Iraq and Afghanistan. 

'As tough as it is to be deployed, the people here in America, back home, understand that every single day you serve, you're fighting for our freedom,' he said.

He also joked: 'I understand that I still have a little bit of rank as ex-President. So I still get to use the gym on base - and, of course, the golf course. 

 

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