Trump’s approval rises despite declining US support for Iran war
Iranian military (Photo: Getty Images)
Support for the war with Iran among Americans has dropped to one of the lowest levels since the beginning of the conflict. At the same time, US President Donald Trump's approval rating increased by 3% over the month, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll.
Americans on the war
According to a joint Reuters/Ipsos survey conducted from Friday to Sunday, only 33% of Americans support the war with Iran. This is the lowest figure since the first days of the five-month conflict.
At the same time, Trump's approval rating rose to 37%. A month earlier, it stood at 34%, which was the lowest level of his presidency.
According to Reuters, 69% of respondents believe that Trump has failed to clearly explain the goals of the US military involvement in Iran. This opinion is held not only by Democrats and independent voters, but also by about 40% of Republican Party supporters.
During the conflict, Trump has cited various goals for the military campaign, including helping Iranians achieve regime change, destroying Iran's ballistic missile potential, and preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
White House comment
The White House stated that the president does not rely on the results of opinion polls. According to administration press secretary Olivia Wales, Trump's main task remains preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
Reuters notes that public dissatisfaction with the war is increasing pressure on Trump and the Republican Party ahead of the midterm congressional elections, which will take place in November.
War's impact on the economy
Reuters notes that the conflict has hit the American economy. Since the start of the war, the average price of gasoline in the US has risen from about $3 to $4 per gallon, which has become an additional factor in voter dissatisfaction.
The poll also showed that among independent voters, Democrats have an advantage over Republicans in congressional election preferences – 36% versus 20%. In addition, independent Americans trust the Democratic Party more on economic policy issues.
The Reuters/Ipsos study was conducted online across the United States among 1,246 American adults. The statistical margin of error is 3 percentage points.
War in Iran – latest
The US does not rule out a positive development in negotiations with Iran, but is ready to act radically if things go differently.
The ceasefire between the countries recently ended due to what happened in the Strait of Hormuz – Tehran attacked not one but several commercial and even civilian vessels. Washington's response resulted in strikes on the Islamic state.
However, Iran is not yet ready for negotiations with the US.
