WASHINGTON, OCTOBER 11 — According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted from September 28 to October 4, 2026, among 5,062 U.S. adults, 65% disapprove of President Donald Trump’s handling of the U.S. military action in Iran, while 33% approve. This represents a decline in approval from 37% in March 2026, shortly after the conflict began, when 61% disapproved and 37% approved. The survey, administered via the Center’s American Trends Panel, found that evaluations of the initial decision to use military force have also declined.
Now, 34% view it as the right decision—down 4 percentage points from 38% in March. Partisan analysis shows Republican approval of Trump’s handling of the conflict dropped from 69% at the start to 63% in the fall, while Democratic views remained unchanged and overwhelmingly negative.
Similarly, 65% of Republicans now say the initial decision to use force was right, down from 71% in March, while Democratic views on the initial decision remain at approximately 10%. On duration expectations, most Americans anticipate the conflict will continue for at least another six months. Major concerns include higher gas and fuel prices (73% extremely or very concerned) and the risk of American troops being wounded or killed (71% extremely or very concerned).
The survey has a margin of error appropriate for a sample of this size, though the exact figure is not specified in the source material. Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan fact tank, conducts such surveys to inform public understanding of major policy issues, including foreign conflicts and presidential administrations’ handling of them.
The data reflects a growing skepticism among the American public regarding the Iran conflict, particularly among Republicans, whose support has waned over the past several months despite Democratic opposition remaining consistently high.
Looking Ahead
As the conflict continues, the U.S. administration will likely face increased scrutiny over its military actions in Iran. The declining support among Republicans, traditionally a key constituency for the President, could pose a significant challenge to the administration’s policy in the region.
