2/3 of US adults say Iran war hasn’t been worthwhile; 28% back Trump’s handling of it

A new AP-NORC poll finds that two-thirds of US adults believe the war with Iran has not been worthwhile, with only 28% approving of President Trump's handling of the conflict. The poll, conducted July 23-27, shows declining support even among Republicans, as the war drags on longer than predicted. The survey also indicates little appetite for prolonged conflict, with only about 2 in 10 wanting to continue military action.

A new AP-NORC poll reveals that two-thirds of US adults believe the war with Iran has not been worthwhile, a stark repudiation of President Trump's handling of the conflict. Only 28% of US adults approve of Trump's approach to Iran, down from 34% last month. Even among Republicans, approval slipped from 71% in June to 61%, though the margin of error for that subgroup is 6 points. The poll, conducted July 23-27, surveyed 1,165 adults with a ±3.7% margin of error. It comes after a nearly two-week escalation in the war, during which the US targeted Iranian military and commercial sites and Iran attacked US facilities, resulting in additional American deaths. Since the war began Feb. 28, 18 US service members have been killed. The survey also shows that 72% of US adults consider it extremely or very important to prevent domestic oil and gas prices from rising, with gas prices above $4 per gallon and oil topping $100 a barrel. About 4 in 10 say gas costs are a major source of stress. The findings indicate little appetite for prolonged conflict: only about 2 in 10 want to continue military action, while 3 in 10 favor a pause and renewed ceasefire negotiations.