Public support for the war with Iran has tumbled to its lowest point since it began. This dragged President Donald Trump’s overall approval rating to a record low. Just 31% of Americans now back U.S. military action against Iran, down from 37% in March.
Donald Trump faces major drop in approval numbers when it comes to Iran war
According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll that closed Monday, only 33% of respondents approve of Donald Trump’s performance in the White House, matching the lowest level recorded in the outlet’s polling across either of his terms. The war, started on February 28 with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, has become a heavy drag on his presidency. As of now, 63% of Americans disapprove of it.
Independent voters, a critical swing bloc, favored Democrats over Republicans by 33% to 19% when asked how they would vote if congressional elections were held today. After all, Republican support is slipping. While 69% of self-identified Republicans still support the war, that number has fallen from 77% in March. That erosion within his own party has fueled the president’s broader decline.
Trump insists the war campaign is necessary to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons. However, six months in, Iran has maintained a de facto blockade of regional oil exports. Gasoline prices have jumped more than a dollar per gallon above pre-war levels. Those rising costs undercut Trump’s 2024 campaign promises to tame inflation and avoid drawn-out wars. The public sees no quick exit.
The poll also found 83% of Americans expect the war to drag on “for an extended period of time,” up from 80% earlier this month. That sentiment threatens Republican leaders defending narrow congressional majorities in the upcoming midterm elections.
The Reuters/Ipsos poll surveyed 1,215 U.S. adults nationwide and carried a margin of error of 3 percentage points.
