Majority of Americans' disapproval of Trump's Iran war

A majority of the American people are expressing their strong disapproval and opposition towards "Epic Fury" (Operation Epic Fury), also known as the 2026 Iran War, which was launched jointly by the United States and Israel on February 28, 2026, targeting Iran's military and nuclear facilities. This war, which began with the assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other key officials, has now been ongoing for nearly three weeks, and in response, Iran is also launching missile and drone attacks.

Due to this conflict spreading to the Gulf region, there is great concern among the public regarding civilian deaths as well as American casualties. The public is paying close attention to the threat to civilian lives through tragic incidents such as the death of nearly 170 schoolgirls in an Iranian girls' school due to a US attack, as well as rising fuel prices and the risk of terrorist counter-attacks.

Regarding this war situation, there is a clear political division among Americans, with 70% to 85% of Republicans supporting it, considering it a crucial step to stop Iran's nuclear program and terrorist funding. However, 80% to 89% of Democrats and over 60% of independents oppose it, viewing it as dragging the country into another endless war like Iraq or Afghanistan, without any clear purpose. According to opinions shared on social media and various forums, while many acknowledge Iran as a problem, a majority believes that a large-scale war of this kind is not necessary and that they are suffering from war fatigue. The lack of a clear end, the Donald Trump administration's entry into this war without Congressional approval, and the failure to properly explain its objectives to the public have been major reasons for public opposition.

The extent of public opposition is clearly confirmed by several reliable and unbiased national polls conducted in early March. According to a survey conducted jointly by National Public Radio (NPR), PBS News, and Marist between March 2 and 4, with the participation of 1,591 adults, 56% oppose these attacks, while only 44% support them. In this survey, 86% of Democrats and 61% of independents expressed opposition, and 54% of all respondents rejected Trump's war management. Furthermore, in a survey conducted by Quinnipiac University between March 6 and 8, involving 1,002 registered voters, 53% of the public expressed opposition to military action, and 74% voiced opposition to deploying ground troops. According to the same survey, 62% believe that President Trump has not adequately explained the war's objectives. In a poll conducted jointly by CNN and SSRS in late February and early March, 59% of the public rejected the decision to launch attacks, and 56% of them believe that this will escalate into a long-term war. Furthermore, the Reuters/Ipsos survey also confirmed that only a small percentage of the public, between 27% and 29%, approved of these attacks.

Additionally, while polls conducted by The Washington Post and Fox News showed a near-even split between support and opposition, according to The Washington Post survey, 53% of the public stated that this would not ensure America's long-term security. In another poll conducted by Schoen Cooperman, although 44% supported the military operation and 41% opposed it, a majority agreed with the war's primary objectives: 78% for stopping Iran's funding of terrorists, 72% for ending its nuclear program, and 59% for regime change. However, between 39% and 55% of poll participants stated that there was no immediate threat to America from Iran before the attack. Overall, the average of high-quality polls shows public support ranging from 38% to 44%, while opposition ranges from 49% to 56%. The high public support seen at the beginning of past wars like World War II, the Korean War, or the 2003 Iraq invasion is entirely absent this time, and an overwhelming majority, between 74% and 88%, have opposed the deployment of ground troops.