The latest Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted July 24-26, 2026, finds only about one-third (33%) of Americans support the ongoing war against Iran, the lowest approval level since hostilities began on February 28, 2026 [1, 2, 3]. The war started with a joint US-Israeli air strike and has resulted in at least 18 US military deaths and thousands of Iranian and Lebanese casualties [3, 4, 5].
Most Americans (69%) say President Donald Trump has not clearly explained the military objectives in Iran, including about 40% of Republican supporters. Retired Marine Alex Womack stated, "I have no idea why we are at war. Personally, I don't think Trump is doing a good job" [1, 2, 3]. White House spokesperson Olivia Wales said Trump will not make decisions based on "fleeting" or "volatile" public opinion polls and reaffirmed the administration's commitment to preventing Iran's nuclear ambitions [2].
Support for the war has consistently remained below 40% since it began, contrasting sharply with past US conflicts where initial backing was higher—about 70% support for the Iraq War and 90% for the Afghanistan War at their onsets [1, 2, 3]. Meanwhile, gasoline prices in the US have risen above $4 per gallon, up from around $3 before the conflict started [2, 3].
Trump's overall approval rating rose slightly to 37% in late July from a June low of 34% [1, 2, 3]. However, Republican strategists warn that low war support and the GOP's focus on foreign policy over the economy puts the party at a disadvantage in the November 2026 midterm elections. Many independent voters now prefer Democratic congressional candidates (36%) over Republican ones (20%) [2, 3]. Republican strategist Alex Conant said, "This is a political disadvantage for the GOP in many ways... with administration focus clearly on foreign policy, winning the economic argument becomes more difficult" [2].
On July 24, 2026, Trump ordered a pause to bombing operations near the Strait of Hormuz, influenced by military advisors including CENTCOM commander Brad Cooper who cited limited strike effectiveness [3, 6, 7]. At a White House Press Association dinner that day, Trump joked about running for a third or fourth presidential term in 2028 despite constitutional limits, saying, "I won three times. Now, I'm going to win again, that should be easy. I'm getting better at running for president" [8].
