Key facts
- Only 33% of Americans support the war on Iran, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll.
- 69% of Americans believe President Trump has not clearly explained the goals of U.S. military involvement in Iran.
- President Trump's approval rating increased to 37%.
- Gasoline prices have risen to an average of over $4 per gallon nationwide.
- Support for the war has been below 40% since late February.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll indicates that only one in three Americans support the ongoing five-month-old war on Iran, marking the lowest approval rating since the conflict's early stages. The survey also revealed that a majority of respondents believe President Donald Trump has not adequately clarified the objectives of the U.S. military involvement.
The poll, conducted from Friday to Sunday, showed a slight increase in Trump's approval rating to 37%, up three points from the previous month. Despite this uptick, 69% of Americans, including 40% of Republicans, feel that Trump has not clearly articulated the goals of the military engagement in Iran.
White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales stated that President Trump's decisions are not influenced by "fluid opinion polls" and reaffirmed his commitment to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. She emphasized the importance of having a commander-in-chief who takes decisive action to ensure national safety.
Public approval for the conflict has consistently remained below 40% since the U.S. and Israel initiated strikes on February 28. This contrasts sharply with the early support seen in previous conflicts, such as the Iraq War, which had approximately 70% approval in its initial months, and the Afghanistan War, which garnered about 90% backing.
The war's unpopularity is creating pressure on Trump and the Republican Party ahead of the November midterm elections. Alex Womack, a retired turbine repair specialist, expressed confusion about the war's purpose and stated his support for Trump has diminished due to the conflict. The war has also led to a significant increase in gasoline prices, with averages exceeding $4 per gallon nationwide, up from approximately $3 before the conflict began.
Republican strategist Alex Conant noted that the war puts the party in a difficult position, making it challenging to win economic arguments when foreign policy is a dominant focus. The poll also indicated that independent voters are leaning towards Democratic congressional candidates, favoring them over Republicans by a margin of 36% to 20% and also on economic policy.
During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump had pledged to avoid prolonged conflicts and initially estimated the Iran war would conclude within four to five weeks. Rhyan Anderson, an independent voter who supported Trump, suggested the president should prioritize domestic issues over foreign entanglements.
Since mid-March, the Reuters/Ipsos survey has tracked support for military action against Iran, with approval at 37% at that time. The initial approval on the war's commencement day was 27%, with 29% choosing 'unsure'. The latest survey included responses from 1,246 U.S. adults and has a margin of error of 3 percentage points.