WASHINGTON, Aug 25: Public support for the United States’ military campaign against Iran has fallen to its lowest level since the conflict began, while President Donald Trump’s approval rating remains near a record low, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released Monday.
The four day survey found that only 31% of Americans support US military action against Iran, down from 37% in March and 34% earlier this month. The latest decline was particularly noticeable among Republican respondents, with 69% now supporting the campaign compared with 77% in March.
Trump’s handling of the conflict appears to be weighing on his broader public standing. For the second consecutive Reuters/Ipsos survey, just 33% of respondents said they approved of his performance as president, marking the lowest approval level recorded for him in the polling series across both his terms in office.
Trump has defended the military campaign as necessary to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. The conflict began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 and has since eased in intensity, although tensions surrounding the region’s energy supplies remain high.
The disruption to oil exports has contributed to higher fuel prices in the United States, adding to economic concerns among voters. Gasoline prices are now more than a dollar per gallon higher than they were before the conflict began.
The Trump administration has continued to pursue economic pressure on Tehran. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday indicated that sanctions could potentially be expanded against countries conducting business with Iran, although no new penalties were immediately imposed.
Concerns Over Prolonged Conflict
The latest survey also showed growing concern that the conflict could continue for a long time. About 83% of Americans said they expected the war to last for an extended period, compared with 80% in the previous poll.
The finding presents a challenge for Trump, who campaigned during the 2024 presidential election on promises to tackle inflation and avoid prolonged overseas military engagements.
Higher energy costs could also become a political issue for Republicans ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, when the party will seek to defend narrow majorities in Congress.
The poll showed independent voters currently leaning toward Democrats in a hypothetical congressional election. Among independent respondents, 33% said they would support Democratic candidates, while 19% favored Republicans.
The Reuters/Ipsos survey was conducted among 1,215 US adults nationwide and has a margin of error of approximately three percentage points in either direction.
