A clear majority of Americans say the war in Iran has not been worth fighting, and approval of President Donald Trump’s handling of the conflict has dropped to 28%, according to a new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
About two-thirds of U.S. adults view the conflict unfavorably, including most Democrats and independents alongside 37% of Republicans. The survey was conducted July 23–27 following a brief pause after a two-week escalation in hostilities. Since the conflict began on Feb. 28, 18 American service members have been killed.
Approval among Republicans for Trump’s handling of Iran sits at 61%, down from 71% in June, though pollsters noted the 6-point margin of error makes the drop a modest one. Trump’s overall job approval rating stands at 33%.
“I don’t have any trust in this administration at all and to why they brought us into this war, why they’re putting our soldiers at risk again,” said Robert McClary, a 52-year-old Republican from Sugar Grove, Ohio, to the AP. “I really don’t know what you can do now. I mean, you’ve kind of gotten yourself buried into this mess.”
Public focus has shifted heavily toward personal finances and diplomatic resolutions. About 72% of respondents said preventing domestic oil and gas prices from rising is a top priority, with average pump prices topping $4 a gallon after crude oil crossed $100 a barrel. Roughly 70% prioritized reaching a permanent ceasefire, while about two-thirds emphasized preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
Only 20% of Americans favor continuing military action in Iran, while 30% want to pause for negotiations and 20% want military operations stopped entirely.
“I don’t see the benefit. I don’t see the total benefit of the American citizen for this war,” said Mikal Baker, a 47-year-old independent from Sandy Springs, Georgia. “I can’t say it will ever be over with.”
Some supporters urge patience despite economic stress. Jennifer Norton, a 71-year-old Republican from Crossville, Tennessee, noted that rising food costs have made her impatient, but added: “I remember Mr. President Trump is a brilliant businessman. He can’t tell us exactly what he’s doing, but I trust that he’s doing something. I mean, he is doing fine.”
Others want more transparency surrounding the military campaign. Ryan Sloan, a 39-year-old Republican from Lakeland, Florida, said he wishes he had “more transparency about why things were going on the way they were,” though he stressed the importance of preventing a nuclear-armed Iran. “We are most definitely their number one targets once they do have nuclear capabilities,” Sloan said.
The AP-NORC survey of 1,165 adults has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.7 percentage points.
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