U.S.-Iran Strikes Spark Public Backlash as Trump Approval Rating Drops
A recent survey conducted nationwide with 1,282 U.S. adults found that 43% of Americans disapprove of the U.S.-led strikes in Iran, while 27% approve and 29% are undecided. Nearly nine in ten respondents reported hearing at least a little about the strikes, which began early on Saturday. The survey had a margin of error of three percentage points.
The poll indicates that 56% of Americans believe President Trump is too willing to use military force to advance U.S. interests, with 87% of Democrats, 23% of Republicans, and 60% of independents holding this view.
Conducted during the strikes by the United States and Israel, the survey closed before the first American casualties were announced in the operation. Three U.S. service members have been killed and five more seriously wounded since the strikes began, plunging the Middle East into a new, unpredictable conflict.
While 55% of Republicans approved of the strikes and 13% disapproved, 42% of Trump supporters said they would be less likely to support the Iran campaign if it led to U.S. troops in the Middle East being killed or injured.
President Trump’s approval rating dropped slightly to 39%, one point below a poll conducted February 18-23. The strikes on Iran began three days before the first primaries of the U.S. midterm elections, which will determine whether Trump’s Republicans maintain their majorities in Congress for the next two years.
Additionally, 45% of respondents, including 34% of Republicans and 44% of independents, stated they would be less likely to support the Iran campaign if gas or oil prices increased in the United States. Brent crude prices surged 10% to about $80 a barrel in over-the-counter trade on Sunday, with analysts predicting prices could reach as high as $100 due to the latest conflict.
