A growing number of Americans believe the United States has gone too far in its military response against Iran, while concerns over rising fuel costs are also increasing, according to a recent survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
The poll comes as the conflict involving the U.S. and Israel enters its fourth week, raising political pressure on President Donald Trump. Although his overall approval ratings remain largely unchanged, the situation in Iran is emerging as a potential challenge for his administration.
Around 59 percent of respondents said the U.S. military action in Iran has been excessive. At the same time, economic concerns are becoming more pronounced, with 45 percent saying they are highly worried about their ability to afford gasoline in the months ahead. This marks a sharp rise from 30 percent recorded in a similar survey conducted shortly after Trump’s reelection.
Despite criticism of the military campaign, there is broad agreement among Americans on preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Nearly two-thirds of those surveyed consider this an important foreign policy priority. However, a similar number also stress the importance of keeping fuel prices stable, highlighting a difficult policy balance for the administration.
Political divisions are evident in public opinion. An overwhelming majority of Democrats, along with a clear majority of independents, believe the military response has exceeded acceptable limits. Among Republicans, views are more mixed. About half say the current level of action is appropriate, while only a small percentage favor further escalation. Meanwhile, a notable minority within the party believes the response has already gone too far.
The findings also reflect a broader trend in public sentiment toward the president’s policies. Previous polling has shown that roughly six in ten Americans feel Trump has overstepped on several major issues, including trade measures and the expansion of presidential authority. The response to the Iran conflict appears consistent with those views, suggesting continued skepticism among the public toward key decisions made by the administration.
