President Donald Trump's approval rating is hovering near record lows, and a big reason is the ongoing conflict in Iran. A new Economist/YouGov poll finds that most voters think going to war with Iran was a mistake, and that sentiment is dragging down the president's numbers.
The poll puts Trump's approval at just 37%, with 59% disapproving. Only 4% of respondents were unsure. That's a tough spot for any president, especially one who has made foreign policy a centerpiece of his administration.
When it comes to the war itself, 57% of voters say it was the wrong decision, while only 27% support it. The remaining 16% aren't sure. That's a notable shift from April, when 30% supported the war and 51% opposed it. Support has clearly eroded over the past few months.
Americans are also bracing for a long conflict. The poll found that 46% expect the war to last another year or more — up from just 26% in April. Another 46% think it will last between a month and a year, down from 53% in April. Only 8% believe it will wrap up within a month, compared to 21% in April. So the mood is getting more pessimistic.
The Economist/YouGov survey aligns with a separate Reuters/Ipsos poll released this week, which found that 58% of voters disapprove of the military strikes against Iran. Both polls paint a clear picture: voters are souring on the conflict.
The timing is tricky. After some diplomatic talks and a brief ceasefire, attacks on Iran have escalated again, raising the risk of a prolonged war. That's not great news for Trump, especially with gas prices already high and voters feeling the pinch.
