Every citizen who could be drafted if the US goes to war

Public fears war iminent

Public concern reflects those realities. A recent YouGov survey found that between 41% and 55% of Western Europeans believe another world war could break out within the next five to 10 years, while about 45% of Americans share the same fear. Even more striking, between 68% and 76% believe such a conflict would involve nuclear weapons.

Those fears have also revived discussions about how countries would mobilize their populations if a major war were to break out.

And now, many people are beginning to ask a question that once seemed like a relic of history: what would happen if the United States brought back the military draft?

Trump has dismissed the possibility, calling mandatory enlistment “a ridiculous idea.” But for many Americans, that reassurance does little to calm concerns about how quickly circumstances could change in a major war.