WASHINGTON: Public support for the United States’ military campaign against Iran has fallen to one in three Americans, while a majority believe President Donald Trump has failed to clearly explain the purpose of the conflict, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll.
The nationwide survey, conducted from July 24 to July 26, found that only 33% of respondents support the war, marking the lowest level of public backing since the conflict began nearly five months ago. At the same time, 69% of Americans, including four in 10 Republicans, said Trump has not clearly explained the goals of U.S. military involvement in Iran.
Despite declining support for the war, Trump’s overall job approval rating rose to 37%, up three percentage points from the previous month.
White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales dismissed the polling, saying the administration would not make policy decisions based on “fluid opinion polls.” She reiterated that the president remains committed to preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
Poll Shows Waning Support for Iran War as Economic Concerns Grow
The Reuters/Ipsos poll indicates that support for the conflict has remained below 40% since the United States and Israel launched military strikes on Iran on February 28.
The latest findings contrast sharply with public opinion during the early stages of previous U.S. conflicts. Polling during the opening months of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq showed significantly higher levels of public support.
The conflict has also added to domestic economic pressures. Nationwide gasoline prices have risen to more than $4 per gallon, compared with roughly $3 before the war began, increasing costs for American households.
Political analysts say rising fuel prices and continued military involvement overseas could become major issues ahead of November’s congressional midterm elections, where Republicans are defending narrow majorities in Congress.
The survey also found that independent voters currently favor Democratic congressional candidates over Republicans by 36% to 20%, while Democrats also hold an advantage among independents on economic policy.
Questions Over War Objectives Continue to Shape Public Opinion
During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump pledged to keep the United States out of prolonged foreign conflicts and initially predicted that military operations against Iran would last only four to five weeks.
However, the administration has presented multiple objectives for the campaign, including preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, degrading its ballistic missile capabilities, and supporting efforts to weaken Iran’s leadership.
The Reuters/Ipsos poll suggests many Americans remain unconvinced by those explanations.
According to the survey, public skepticism extends across party lines, with a substantial share of Republican respondents also saying the administration has not clearly communicated its strategic goals.
The conflict has claimed the lives of 18 U.S. service members, while thousands of people have been killed in Iran and neighboring Lebanon since hostilities escalated earlier this year.
The online Reuters/Ipsos poll surveyed 1,246 U.S. adults nationwide and has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.