WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� Most Americans believe recent has gone too far, and many are worried about affording gasoline, according to a new AP-NORC poll.
As the war launched by the U.S. and Israel continues in its fourth week, the survey from indicates that while President Donald Trump’s approval rating is holding steady, the conflict could be swiftly turning into a major political liability for his Republican administration.
While Trump is to the Middle East, about 59% of Americans say U.S. military action in Iran has been excessive.
Meanwhile, 45% are 鈥渆xtremely鈥� or 鈥渧ery鈥� concerned about being able to afford gas in the next few months, up from 30% in conducted shortly after Trump won reelection with and lower the cost of living.
There is significant support for at least one of , which is preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. About two-thirds of Americans say that should be an 鈥渆xtremely鈥� or 鈥渧ery鈥� important foreign policy goal for the U.S. However, they are just as likely to say it’s important to keep U.S. oil and gas prices from rising 鈥� a juxtaposition that could be difficult for the White House to manage.
About 4 in 10 U.S. adults continue to approve of Trump’s performance as president, which is unchanged from last month. His approval on foreign policy, while slightly lower than his overall approval, also largely held steady.
Trump has left unclear . Despite escalating threats, he’s also suggested could resolve the fighting. Americans remain broadly apprehensive about Trump鈥檚 ability to make the right decisions on the use of military force outside the U.S., and they mostly oppose more aggressive steps, such as deploying ground forces.
Republicans and Democrats prioritize keeping gas prices low
Keeping down is the rare goal that unites Americans in both major political parties.
About three-quarters of Republicans and about two-thirds of Democrats say it鈥檚 highly important to prevent U.S. oil and gas prices from going up.
However, concern about the current situation isn’t evenly felt. Only about 3 in 10 Republicans said they’re 鈥渆xtremely鈥� or 鈥渧ery鈥� worried about affording gas in the next few months, as opposed to about 6 in 10 Democrats.
Trump鈥檚 focus on Iran’s nuclear program also appears more compelling to Republicans than to Democrats. About two-thirds of Americans say the U.S. should prioritize keeping Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, but about 8 in 10 Republicans say this is at least 鈥渧ery鈥� important, compared with about half of Democrats.
The war has exacerbated political debates over the role that Israel should play in U.S. foreign policy, especially since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was for attacking Iran. Only about 4 in 10 U.S. adults say preventing Iran from threatening Israel should be a high priority.
Toppling Iran’s leaders is viewed as slightly less important. Only about 3 in 10 say it’s at least 鈥渧ery鈥� important for the U.S. to replace Iran鈥檚 government with one that鈥檚 friendlier to U.S. interests.
Most Americans say US action has gone too far in Iran
As Trump on whether the Iran war will end soon, about 9 in 10 Democrats and about 6 in 10 independents say the Iran attacks have 鈥済one too far.鈥�
Republicans are more divided. About half of Republicans say the U.S. military action has been 鈥渁bout right,鈥� but relatively few want to see it go further. Only about 2 in 10 Republicans say the U.S. military action has not gone far enough, while about one-quarter say it鈥檚 gone too far.
has found that about 6 in 10 Americans say Trump has 鈥済one too far鈥� on a range of issues, including his approach to tariffs and presidential power. That number, which is broadly reflective of his overall approval, signals that while Trump’s actions in Iran are unpopular, it’s still comparable to other controversial moves he’s taken as president.
Further entrenching the U.S. in the war could change that, depending on what happens next. About 6 in 10 Americans 鈥渟omewhat鈥� or 鈥渟trongly鈥� oppose deploying U.S. troops on the ground to fight Iran, including about 8 in 10 Democrats and roughly half of Republicans. Just under half of Americans oppose airstrikes targeting Iranian leaders and airstrikes against military targets in Iran, while about 3 in 10 are in favor and about 3 in 10 don’t have an opinion.
Many Americans distrust Trump on use of military force abroad
About half of U.S. adults have 鈥渙nly a little鈥� trust or 鈥渘one at all鈥� in Trump when it comes to making the right decisions about the use of military force outside the U.S., in line with from February.
About 34% of U.S. adults approve of the way Trump is handling foreign policy, similar to 36% in February. That measure has been consistent in recent months despite a cascade of actions, including confrontations over Greenland and an attack on Venezuela, that have generated controversy at home and abroad.
It’s also very similar to Trump’s approval on Iran in the new poll, which found that 35% of Americans have a positive view of his handling of that issue.
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The AP-NORC poll of 1,150 adults was conducted March 19-23 using a sample drawn from NORC鈥檚 probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 4 percentage points.
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