A new opinion poll has found declining public support for U.S. President Donald Trump’s handling of the war with Iran, with nearly two-thirds of Americans saying the conflict has not been worth the cost.
The survey, conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, found that a clear majority of Democrats and independents viewed the war negatively, along with about 37% of Republicans.
The conflict began on February 28 and has continued to divide the American public amid mounting concerns over casualties, economic disruption and rising energy prices.
Support for Trump declines
Only 28% of U.S. adults approved of Trump’s handling of Iran, down from 34% in the previous month, according to the poll.
Support also weakened among Republicans, with 61% approving of Trump’s approach to the conflict, compared with 71% in June.
Trump’s overall approval rating stood at 33%, slightly below his rating at the same stage of his first presidential term and broadly similar to that of former President Joe Biden around 18 months into his presidency.
The poll found that roughly two in 10 Americans wanted the United States to continue military operations against Iran.
Around three in 10 said Washington should suspend military action and attempt to restore a ceasefire through negotiations, while another two in 10 wanted the military campaign to end completely.
Nearly one-quarter of respondents said they did not have enough information to form an opinion.
Republican divisions deepen
The findings revealed significant divisions within the Republican Party.
About half of Republicans supported continuing military operations against Iran, particularly those who identified as conservative or as supporters of Trump’s Make America Great Again movement.
Republicans who did not identify with the MAGA movement were more likely to support a ceasefire or a complete end to U.S. military operations.
Economic concerns grow
The poll also highlighted widespread concern about the war’s economic consequences.
Around 72% of Americans said they were worried about the conflict’s impact on their personal finances.
Seven in 10 respondents said it was extremely or very important for the U.S. government to prevent domestic oil and fuel prices from rising, up slightly from 67% in March.
Gasoline prices have become a growing source of anxiety for many households, with around four in 10 Americans saying they were very or extremely concerned about being able to afford fuel over the coming months.
That figure was slightly lower than the 45% recorded in March.
Despite declining support for the war, about seven in 10 Americans said preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remained an extremely important objective.
