Nearly 70 Percent of Americans Say US-Israel War on Iran Was Not Worth Fighting, New Poll Finds

A substantial majority of adults in the United States believe the US-Israeli war against Iran has not been worth the cost, according to a new nationwide survey released Thursday by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The poll, which questioned more than 2,000 American adults, found that 69 percent said the conflict has not justified its toll — a five-percentage-point increase since July, suggesting growing disillusionment as the war drags on with no clear resolution in sight.

The survey paints a grim picture for President Donald Trump, who has staked significant political capital on the military campaign. According to the findings, 71 percent of respondents disapprove of how the president is handling Iran, while only a minority expressed support for his approach to the conflict. The numbers underscore a widening gap between the administration's stated objectives and public sentiment as the war continues to dominate national headlines.

The war, launched as a joint US-Israeli operation, has been accompanied by mounting economic consequences at home. The poll indicates that Americans are growing increasingly anxious about the cost of basic necessities. Approximately half of those surveyed said they are deeply concerned about being able to afford fuel for their vehicles — a sharp rise from 39 percent who expressed the same worry in July. A similar proportion reported high levels of concern about their ability to pay for food, highlighting the war's ripple effects on household budgets across the country.

Trump's overall economic approval ratings have tumbled to new lows. Only 26 percent of adults approve of his handling of the economy, the lowest figure recorded in the survey's history. Even more striking, just 17 percent approve of how the president is managing the cost of living — a key issue for voters ahead of the midterm elections. The findings suggest that the administration's economic messaging has failed to resonate with a public feeling squeezed by rising prices and global instability linked to the conflict.

The survey also reveals a nation deeply dissatisfied with its overall direction. More than half of all adult respondents said the national economy and the country as a whole have worsened since Trump returned to office in 2025. That sentiment cuts across party lines, though it is most pronounced among Democrats and independents. Notably, even within Trump's own base, frustration is evident: roughly one-third of Republicans surveyed said that elevated prices are directly tied to the president's policies, while two-thirds attributed higher costs to factors beyond his control. Some Republican respondents also faulted Trump for failing to deliver the relief he promised on the campaign trail.

Public angst over fuel costs has emerged as a particularly potent political vulnerability. With about half of Americans now deeply worried about filling their gas tanks, the administration faces pressure to address energy prices that have been driven upward by the war's disruption of global oil markets. The conflict has also raised concerns about food affordability, as supply chains and agricultural inputs are affected by geopolitical instability. These economic pain points are likely to shape voter behavior in the upcoming midterm elections, where Republicans are fighting to retain control of Congress.

The data arrives as Trump kicks off an aggressive midterm campaign schedule, beginning with stops in Texas and Oklahoma. The president plans to spend 32 days on the trail in an all-out effort to energize the Republican base, hoping to counter widespread voter anxiety surrounding the war's mounting economic fallout. However, the poll numbers suggest that the campaign will be an uphill battle, with the president's popularity remaining deeply underwater nationally.

In an interview with TIME magazine published Thursday, Trump was asked whether the deeply unpopular war could threaten his party's chances in November. He initially responded, "It's possible," before quickly adding that the conflict "should help, because Iran will not have a nuclear weapon." The comment reflects the administration's core argument: that the military action was necessary to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear arms, a rationale that appears to be losing traction with an American public more focused on domestic economic pain.

Confronted with his sliding poll numbers, the president dismissed the survey data outright. He claimed that "pollsters are corrupt" and that unfavorable polls "are fake," insisting that he would defeat any opponent running today "by 20 points." This defiance echoes Trump's long-standing strategy of attacking the credibility of mainstream polling, even as internal Republican surveys reportedly show similar trends of voter discontent.

The AP-NORC poll, conducted with a representative sample of more than 2,000 adults, carries a margin of error of plus or minus a few percentage points, making the five-point shift since July statistically significant. The July survey had already shown a majority opposing the war, but the latest figures indicate that opposition has hardened and broadened. Analysts suggest that as the conflict continues without a decisive victory or a clear exit strategy, patience among the American public is wearing thin.

The findings also have implications for the broader US-Israel relationship. While the Trump administration has closely aligned itself with Israeli military objectives, the poll suggests that American voters are increasingly questioning the wisdom of deep involvement in another Middle Eastern conflict. This sentiment could complicate future military cooperation and diplomatic efforts, particularly if Congress becomes more responsive to anti-war voices within both parties.

For Republicans, the poll presents a delicate balancing act. Candidates in competitive districts must navigate between supporting the president's foreign policy and addressing the kitchen-table concerns of constituents who are worried about gas and grocery prices. Some GOP strategists have privately expressed concern that the war could become a drag on down-ballot races, particularly in suburban areas where independent voters are sensitive to economic anxiety and military overreach.

As the campaign intensifies, the White House is expected to ramp up its messaging on national security, arguing that the war has degraded Iran's nuclear capabilities and enhanced regional stability. However, the poll indicates that this argument is not breaking through. With a majority of Americans saying the war was not worth fighting and a growing share anxious about affording basic necessities, the president's team faces a challenging path to persuading voters that the conflict's costs are justified.

The survey also reveals a stark partisan divide in how Americans perceive the war's impact on their lives. While Republicans are more likely to blame external factors for rising prices, Democrats and independents overwhelmingly point to the administration's policies, including the war, as drivers of inflation. This gap suggests that the midterm elections will not just be a referendum on the war itself, but on broader questions of economic stewardship and presidential competence.

Ultimately, the AP-NORC poll offers a snapshot of a nation weary of conflict and increasingly focused on pocketbook issues. With the war in Iran entering a critical phase and the midterm campaign heating up, the president's ability to address these concerns — or to convince voters that the war is connected to their economic pain — may determine the political landscape for months to come. For now, the data sends an unmistakable message: most Americans believe the war has not been worth the cost.