Iran conflict Trump poll finds Americans frustrated and bracing for a long fight
A CBS News/YouGov poll says most Americans think the Iran conflict has been harder than Trump expected and could drag on for months or years.
By Frankie Delgado · News Reporter
4 min read
A new Iran conflict Trump poll shows a public stuck between war aims it still sees as important and a fight it thinks is going badly. The CBS News/YouGov survey found most Americans describe their feelings about the conflict as uncertain and frustrated as fighting escalates again.
The poll found a broad belief that the conflict has been tougher than the Trump administration expected. Most respondents also said they think it will continue for months or even years longer, according to CBS News.
What does the Iran conflict Trump poll say?
The survey points to three steady views among Americans: many say they do not have a clear sense of what is happening day to day in the Strait of Hormuz, most see major U.S. goals in the conflict, and the public’s view of how the fight is going has slipped over time.
Asked about U.S. objectives, most Americans continued to rate several goals as important, CBS News reported. Those include opening the Strait of Hormuz, stopping Iran’s nuclear program and stopping Iran from threatening the region.
The Strait of Hormuz issue, as measured in the poll, centers on clarity and access. Respondents said they still lack a clear daily picture of events there, while most also said opening the strait remains an important goal, especially as gas prices rise at home.
Even with those goals in view, the poll found that ending the war remains the majority preference over pressing Iran for further concessions. CBS News said support for ending it immediately has fallen since a June ceasefire memorandum of understanding announced by Trump fell apart.
That shift was driven largely by Republicans, according to CBS News. The report said Republicans largely backed the president’s move to end the war when the ceasefire memorandum was announced in June, but now say the conflict should continue after the deal collapsed.
About one-third of Americans want the U.S. to keep pressing for more concessions from Iran, CBS News reported. Among that group, the goals of opening the Strait of Hormuz, halting Iran’s nuclear program and stopping threats to the region are especially important.
How do Americans see Trump’s handling of Iran?
The poll found that most Americans feel President Trump makes the situation sound better than it is. CBS News did not report a White House response to the poll findings.
Trump’s approval rating on Iran remains below his overall job approval, according to CBS News. His overall approval is still in the range where it has been for months and has ticked up one point since June, the report said.
Approval of the military action overall remains stable and net negative, CBS News reported. Views of which side has the advantage are mixed, with many respondents saying neither side has it, while slightly more say the U.S. has the advantage now than said so in May.
Democrats do not have a perceived edge over Trump and Republicans on the approach to Iran, the poll found. CBS News said people who think neither side has the better approach, or who are unsure, are even more uncertain about the conflict than the public overall.
What is happening at home?
The poll also found economic strain sitting alongside war fatigue. A large majority said their incomes are not keeping up with inflation, and most said Trump is not focused enough on lowering prices.
Respondents also said Trump is too focused on tariffs, which remain unpopular in the poll, and too focused on making changes to buildings in Washington, D.C., according to CBS News. Among people who say their income is not keeping up with inflation, opposition to new tariffs is overwhelming.
Half the country said gas prices are either difficult or a hardship, though CBS News said that measure is down somewhat from its highs. People hit harder by gas prices are especially likely to disapprove of the military action, the poll found.
The CBS News/YouGov survey was conducted among a nationally representative sample of 2,193 U.S. adults from July 22 to July 24, 2026. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.7 percentage points.
This story draws on original reporting from CBS News.