US support for Iran war falls as Trump approval hits record low

Public support in the United States for military action against Iran has fallen to its lowest level since the conflict began, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Monday. The survey also found President Donald Trump's approval rating holding at 33%, matching the lowest level recorded in the polling series across both of his terms. The findings point to growing political pressure on the White House as the war continues and economic concerns deepen.

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The poll found that 31% of Americans surveyed support US military action against Iran, down from 37% in March and 34% earlier this month. Among Republican respondents, support fell to 69% from 77% in March, showing that backing has weakened even within Trump's own party. The survey also suggested that 83% of respondents expect the conflict to last for an extended period, up from 80% earlier this month.

That expectation of a prolonged war appears to be shaping public opinion as much as the military campaign itself. The conflict began on February 28 with US and Israeli attacks on Iran, according to the poll report. Trump has defended the campaign as necessary to stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.

At the same time, the war has had economic consequences that are visible to US consumers, with Iran maintaining a de facto blockade of oil exports from the region and US petrol prices rising to near record highs. The report said petrol prices are now more than $1 per gallon higher than before the war began. The latest figures matter because they combine foreign policy, domestic politics and inflation in a single pressure point for the administration.

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Trump campaigned in 2024 on promises to reduce inflation and avoid foreign military entanglements, so a long-running conflict with rising fuel costs cuts across two of his central political messages. The poll suggests that the war is not only a security issue but also a test of public tolerance for economic disruption. It also indicates that support for the campaign may be eroding as the costs become more visible.

The administration has continued to increase economic pressure on Tehran alongside the military campaign. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Monday that the United States would target all of Iran's sources of revenue, including oil, in an effort to stop other countries and companies from doing business with Tehran. The campaign has been described as Operation Economic Outcast.

That approach suggests Washington is trying to combine military force with financial restrictions, even as the public shows signs of fatigue. What remains unclear is whether the decline in support will continue if petrol prices stay elevated and the conflict drags on. The poll does not indicate whether the administration's strategy is changing, only that public backing is weakening and expectations of a long war are rising.

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