Pew Research Center poll reveals widespread disapproval of the ongoing war in Iran and President Trump's handling of it, with Americans citing concerns about the war's cost, rising gas prices, and potential for further conflict. Experts suggest the war's impact could negatively affect Republican performance in the upcoming midterm elections, prompting pressure on Trump to seek an end to the conflict.
by CORY SMITH | The National News DeskPresident Donald Trump speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Washington. Pew Research Center polling shows broad disapproval for the war in Iran, with around six in 10 Americans saying it was a mistake to use military force in Iran.
Around the same share of Americans gave President Donald Trump poor marks for his handling of the war.. “We've wiped out their navy completely, their air force completely. We've wiped out a large percentage of their missiles and the missile launchers.”, conducted March 16-22 and released Wednesday, found that under 10% expect the war to be over in less than a month. A narrow majority of Americans, 54%, believe U.S. military action against Iran will continue for at least six more months. “We are clearly not seeing a traditional rally-around-the-flag effect, where support for the war effort and support for the president rise once we're in the conflict,” said Mark Jones, a political science fellow at Rice University's Baker Institute. And Jones said the pressure on Trump to find an off-ramp from the war will increase the longer it continues.Americans are unhappy about rising gas prices and concerned about the billions of dollars spent on war costs and munitions, Jones said. But the potential loss of American soldiers would vault to the top of the list of concerns if the U.S. entered into a ground conflict, Jones said. He said Iran understands that and “is pretty confident that the United States is not going to do that.” Alexander Downes, a professor of political science and international affairs at George Washington University, said Trump is often willing to ignore public sentiment in the pursuit of his agenda, but Downes said the high disapproval on the topic is likely to impact Trump’s thinking this time around.A person pumps gas at a BP station on March 17, 2026, in the Kensington neighborhood of the Brooklyn borough in New York City. Support on the Republican side is even “relatively soft,” in the 70% range, which is concerning for Trump, Downes said. Overall, 59% of Americans say the U.S. made the wrong decision to use military force in Iran, according to the Pew Research Center.Disapproval stands at 90% among Democrats and Democratic leaning independents. On the flip side, 69% of Republicans and Republican leaners approve of Trump’s handling of the war. But there’s a split within Republican support, as 79% of those who consider themselves Republicans voice approval but just 52% of Republican leaners do.Most Democrats, 68%, think the war will continue for at least six months or more.Jones said Trump can’t win back public support, so his best option is to find an acceptable way to end the war soon. Jones said the war will have a negative impact on Republican performances in the November midterms. The question is simply how big the impact will be. “If you're a Republican U.S. House candidate in a purple, light blue or even light pink district, you have to be sweating bullets,” Jones said. Downes said there’s also growing unhappiness among some Republican lawmakers who feel they can’t get a clear answer out of the Pentagon or the administration about the war goals.Regime change should not be among those objectives, Downes said. Trump should focus first and foremost on efforts to limit Iran's nuclear program, Downes said. Restrictions on ballistic missiles and Iranian support for terrorist proxies can be negotiated separately, he said.But Downes was critical of some of Trump’s efforts to tame oil prices, calling the lifting of sanctions on both“The longer the war continues with no end in sight and no Iranian concessions, the greater the consequences will be for the midterm elections, largely because of the war's effect on the economy,” Downes said.519 Plaza on East Ridge Road could be deemed a public nuisance, pending an upcoming decision by the Irondequoit Town Board.Rochester woman sentenced to 6 years for role in 3-year-old son's death Rochester, N.Y. -- A Rochester mother who admitted to her role in the 2020 death of her 3-year-old son was sentenced to six years in prison Thursday.TheRochester police investigating suspicious death on Lyell Avenue
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