Driftsprint

By Peter Aitken

Politics Weekend Editor

ShareNewsweek is a Trust Project member

A poll from Reuters/Ipsos published on Sunday found that one in four Americans support the U.S. strikes on Iran, which killed Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Additionally, about half of respondents, which includes one in four Republicans, believe President Donald Trump is too willing to use military force.

Newsweek reached out to the White House by email on Sunday evening for comment.

Why It Matters

Americans have largely remained divided along partisan lines in the past on issues involving Trump and Iran. In 2025, following U.S.-Israel's strikes on Iran, polling found that while roughly 70 percent of Americans think Iran poses a real threat to the U.S., an increase by 13 points from just six years prior when Trump ordered the assassination of Iranian military officer Qasem Soleimani, only around 45 percent supported the strikes on Iran.

That number was far higher amongst Republicans, who at the time increasingly believed the conflict with Iran was a U.S. obligation, with 52 percent of Republicans saying they believed war with Iran should continue until the country's nuclear facilities were destroyed—more than the 30 percent of all voters who believed that to be the case.

Broadly, at the time, around 53 percent of voters supported a pause for negotiations, and 57 percent of voters in a Fox News poll believed that Trump was weak on foreign policy.

...

What To Know

The joint U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran, titled "Operation Epic Fury," dealt untold damage to Iran. Israeli sources have said that "within minutes" the strikes wiped out not only the Ayatollah but dozens of top Iranian officials. Trump on Sunday in a video message posted to his social media, claimed that strikes also took out Iranian naval capabilities.

However, American support for the strikes appears to be far weaker than the president likely believed it would be. Sunday's poll found that around 27 percent of respondents approved of the strikes, while 43 percent disapproved and 29 percent couldn't say.

Republicans still mostly approved, but with 55 percent approval, 13 percent disapproval, and 32 percent unsure—a markedly less assured support compared to last year's numbers of around 65 percent.

Democrats, in contrast, disapprove by 74 percent, with only 7 percent approving and 19 percent unsure. Other party voters also saw small support, with only 19 percent approving compared to 44 percent disapproving and 38 percent unsure.

When it comes to the president's use of military force, with the memory of the raid in Venezuela in which the U.S. captured Nicolas Maduro in January and extracted him from the country to face trial in the U.S.—56 percent of Americans believe the president uses too much force, while 35 percent say it's "just enough" and a small percentage believe he's not using enough.

Around 73 percent of Republicans say he's using enough force, compared to 23 percent saying it's too much. In contrast, around 87 percent of Democrats have said the president is using too much force, compared to 7 percent saying it's just enough.

Here, however, other party voters have flipped, with 60 percent saying the president uses too much force, and only 26 percent saying it's "just enough."

The poll was conducted during the strikes and closed before the announcement that three U.S. service members were killed during Epic Fury. The poll gathered responses online from 1,282 U.S. adults nationwide and had a margin of error of 3 percentage points.

What People Are Saying

President Donald Trump on Truth Social on Saturday, in part: "Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead. This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all Great Americans, and those people from many Countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei."

Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, on X: "A word of advice to our regional Arab partners and other allies: get behind President Trump and go all in to ensure the ayatollah’s Iran, which has become the largest state sponsor of terrorism in the world is no more. Stand with the people and stand against the ayatollah. You won’t regret it if you do."

Senator Mark Kelly, an Arizona Democrat, said in an X post: "After promising to keep America out of war and instead focus on lowering costs for families, Donald Trump has launched a large-scale military operation against Iran...When I launched on my first combat mission during Operation Desert Storm 35 years ago, I understood the mission and the end goal. So did Congress. So did the American people. That’s the minimum level of leadership this country deserves. And Donald Trump has failed again at that. The Senate needs to come back to Washington immediately and do its Constitutional duty."

Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, said in an X post: “I am opposed to this War. This is not ‘America First.’ When Congress reconvenes, I will work with @RepRoKhanna to force a Congressional vote on war with Iran. The Constitution requires a vote, and your Representative needs to be on record as opposing or supporting this war."

Former Vice President Kamala Harris in a post on X on Saturday: "Donald Trump is dragging the United States into a war the American people do not want. Let me be clear: I am opposed to a regime-change war in Iran, and our troops are being put in harm’s way for the sake of Trump’s war of choice."

In a polarized era, the center is dismissed as bland. At Newsweek, ours is different: The Courageous Center—it's not "both sides," it's sharp, challenging and alive with ideas. We follow facts, not factions. If that sounds like the kind of journalism you want to see thrive, we need you.
When you become a Newsweek Member, you support a mission to keep the center strong and vibrant. Members enjoy: Ad-free browsing, exclusive content and editor conversations. Help keep the center courageous. Join today.