A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll, concluded on Sunday, revealed that only 25% of Americans approve of the US strikes that resulted in the death of Iran’s leader. Nearly half of the respondents, including 25% of Republicans, feel that President Donald Trump is overly inclined towards using military force.
Out of the survey participants, 27% expressed approval of the strikes, while 43% disapproved, and 29% remained uncertain. The majority of respondents reported being at least somewhat knowledgeable about the strikes, which commenced early on Saturday.
The poll indicated that 56% of Americans perceive Trump, who has authorized strikes in countries like Venezuela, Syria, and Nigeria recently, as being too eager to deploy military action to further US interests. A significant 87% of Democrats shared this sentiment, along with 23% of Republicans and 60% of individuals unaffiliated with any political party.
Conducted during the US and Israel strikes on Iran, the survey concluded before the US military disclosed the initial American casualties in the operation. Since the strikes, three US service members have lost their lives, and five others sustained severe injuries, escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Although 55% of Republicans supported the strikes and 13% opposed them, the Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 42% within the Republican party indicated they would be less inclined to endorse the Iran campaign if it resulted in US troops in the Middle East being harmed.
Trump’s presidential approval rating experienced a slight decline to 39%, dropping by one percentage point from a previous Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted between February 18 and 23.
The strikes on Iran commenced three days before the initial primaries of the US midterm elections, crucial for determining the fate of Republican majorities in Congress for the next two years. Voter concerns, as consistently shown by Reuters/Ipsos polls, predominantly revolve around the economy rather than foreign affairs leading up to the elections.
Approximately 45% of poll respondents, including 34% of Republicans and 44% of independents, expressed that they would be less supportive of the Iran campaign if gas or oil prices surged in the United States.
Following the strikes, Brent crude prices surged by 10% to around $80 per barrel in over-the-counter trade on Sunday, with analysts speculating that prices could soar to $100 due to the ongoing conflict.
The latest Reuters/Ipsos poll collected feedback online from 1,282 US adults across the nation, with a margin of error standing at three percentage points.