Poll: Most Americans Say Iran War Not Worth Fighting

A recent Associated Press-NORC poll conducted from July 23-27 indicates that a significant majority of Americans, approximately two-thirds of U.S. adults, believe the war in Iran, which commenced on February 28, has not been worth the cost. This sentiment spans across the political spectrum, encompassing the vast majority of Democrats and independents, and even extending to about 37% of Republicans. The poll's findings represent a substantial critique of President Donald Trump's strategy for the conflict, which has persisted longer than initially anticipated by the administration. The survey was conducted during a period when the U.S. and Iran had temporarily halted attacks following a nearly two-week intensification of hostilities. During this escalation, the U.S. carried out strikes on Iranian military and commercial infrastructure, while Iran retaliated by targeting U.S. military installations throughout the Middle East, leading to further casualties among American service members. Since the war's inception, 18 U.S. service members have been killed, though the Trump administration has reportedly attempted to adjust these figures. The poll results underscore the growing unpopularity of the Iran war domestically, posing a potential challenge for congressional Republicans seeking reelection in November who have publicly supported President Trump's military engagements. Currently, only 28% of U.S. adults approve of President Trump's handling of the Iran situation, marking a slight decrease from 34% recorded in the previous month. Even within the Republican party, there appears to be a growing dissatisfaction with the protracted nature of the conflict. Approximately 61% of Republicans now approve of Trump's approach to Iran, a noticeable drop from the 71% approval rate observed in June. While the margin of sampling error for Republicans is 6 percentage points, suggesting a slight decline, this trend is considered noteworthy, especially in light of Republicans' generally higher approval of President Trump's overall presidential performance. President Trump's overall approval rating stands at 33%, a figure that is slightly lower than his standing at a comparable point in his first term and is similar to the approval rating of former President Joe Biden approximately 18 months into his presidency.