Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Poll Finds Americans Disapprove of Trump’s Iran War Handling
A new poll asked Americans what they think about President Donald Trump’s handling of the conflict with Iran.
Only about one in four people approved of his approach in the CNN/SSRS poll.
Most people said the conflict has hurt the United States.
Many also said Trump does not have a clear plan or is doing enough to end the war.
Three out of four Americans said the conflict was not worth the lives and money involved.
Republicans were more supportive than Democrats and independents.
However, support among Republicans had fallen since March.
Another poll found somewhat higher approval for Trump’s Iran strikes, showing that survey results differed depending on the question asked.
A CNN/SSRS poll found 26% approve and 73% disapprove of Donald Trump’s handling of the Iran conflict.
Approval among Republicans fell to 60%, from 73% in March, according to CNN’s analysis.
Overall, 76% said the conflict was not worth its cost in American lives and government spending.
Seventy-five percent said Trump lacks a clear plan, while 78% said he is not doing enough to end the war.
A separate Reuters/Ipsos poll put Trump’s overall approval at 32% and approval of his Iran strikes at 34%.
- Who
- U.S. President Donald Trump and American adults surveyed by CNN/SSRS and Reuters/Ipsos.
- What
- Polls found low approval of Trump’s handling of the conflict and strikes involving Iran, along with widespread concern about the war’s costs and direction.
- When
- The CNN/SSRS poll was conducted September 16–17; the findings were reported ahead of the November midterms.
- Where
- The United States and Iran.
- Why
- The surveys measured public views as Trump made the Iran conflict a central part of his foreign policy.
Critics of Trump’s Iran Policy
Supporters of Trump’s Iran Policy
Whether the conflict is worthwhile
Critics of Trump’s Iran Policy
Most Democrats and independents said the conflict was not worth the American lives and government spending involved; 97% of Democrats and 82% of independents held that view.
Supporters of Trump’s Iran Policy
Republicans were more supportive, with 55% saying the conflict was worth the costs.
Whether the United States is winning
Critics of Trump’s Iran Policy
Only 13% of Democrats and 31% of independents said the United States was winning the war.
Supporters of Trump’s Iran Policy
Seventy percent of Republicans said the United States was winning.
Trump’s handling of the conflict
Critics of Trump’s Iran Policy
Critics largely disapproved, with 73% of all CNN/SSRS respondents rejecting Trump’s handling and 54% of Republicans who do not identify with MAGA disapproving.
Supporters of Trump’s Iran Policy
Republicans remained more supportive overall, although approval among them had fallen to 60% from 73% in March.
- CNN/SSRS approval
- 26% approved and 73% disapproved of Trump’s handling of the Iran conflict.
- Overall conflict cost
- 76% said the conflict was not worth the toll in American lives and government spending.
- Plan for Iran
- 75% said Trump does not have a clear plan for handling the situation.
- Ending the war
- 78% said Trump was not doing enough to bring the war to an end.
- Long-term conflict
- 69% said a long-term military conflict between the United States and Iran was likely.
- Republican approval
- 60% of Republicans approved of Trump’s handling, down from 73% in March.
- Foreign-policy approval
- 29% approved of Trump’s handling of foreign affairs, compared with 71% who disapproved.