A new Reuters/Ipsos poll reveals that only one in four Americans believes President Donald Trump's war with Iran was worth its costs, and a majority worry that the truce with Tehran is unlikely to last.
The five-day poll, which closed on Monday, also showed the war weighing heavily on Trump's popularity. His approval rating dropped to 34%, returning to the lowest level of his second term, last seen in an April survey.
Public Opinion on War Costs and Outcomes
Only 23% of Americans — including just half of Republicans — think the U.S. is now in a stronger position with Iran compared with before the war, the poll found. Some 35% of respondents believe the U.S. is in a weaker position, while the rest said they were unsure or that the position was about the same.
Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a preliminary deal on June 17 that would reopen oil and gas shipping lanes frozen by the conflict, while easing U.S.-led economic pressure on Iran. The deal led to a rapid drop in global crude oil prices, although for most Americans, gasoline prices remain considerably higher than before the February 28 U.S.-Israeli strikes that started the war. Iran responded with strikes that shut down a fifth of the global oil trade and damaged energy facilities of U.S. regional allies.
Peace Prospects and Political Fallout
Only 24% of Americans think the war with Iran was worth the costs, the poll showed. Half of respondents said the conflict was not worth it, and the rest were unsure. Some 63% of Americans think it unlikely that the deal Trump signed will lead to lasting peace between the two countries. About half of Republicans and eight in 10 Democrats said the deal was unlikely to deliver peace. Just 18% of Americans — including 10% of Democrats and 34% of Republicans — see lasting peace as likely.
Trump won the 2024 presidential election after promising to reduce inflation and keep America out of costly foreign wars. His approval rating on the cost of living, at 22%, was near the lowest level of his presidency and below that of his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, at the end of his presidency.
Midterm Election Implications
Trump started his current term with a 47% approval rating, but his popularity has suffered amid high inflation and controversy over his aggressive deportation efforts, which have included deadly confrontations with pro-immigration activists. His falling popularity could weigh on his Republican allies as they defend their congressional majorities in the November 3 midterm elections.
The latest poll showed just 37% of Americans approved of how Trump has handled immigration, the lowest of his term and down from 40% in the prior Reuters/Ipsos poll. The poll gathered responses from 1,262 U.S. adults nationwide and had a margin of error of 3 percentage points in either direction.
