Iran war, rising energy prices fuel economic concerns; many say the conflict is not going well, they don’t want the state to be left in the state, according to a CBS News survey
When to measure the warAmericans consider at least two important things: what the goals are overseas and their impact at home.
Right now, Americans want many things to happen in Iran: Most feel it is important to stop it nuclear programensure that the Iranian people are free, and, as the conflict continues, it will not be acceptable to leave the country. The Iranian Empire in power at its end.
But it is also important to end the conflict as soon as possible, they say, with growing economic pressure at home.
Rising gas prices they are fueling some pessimism about the US economy in general, and concerns about negative impacts on it at least in the near term, if not the long term.
That uncertainty is supported by a growing number of people who feel that the Trump administration has not explained things. Most call it a war of choice, not of necessity.
Overall, most Americans feel that the conflict is not going well right now, despite continued support from a majority of Republicans for the president, in part because they express great confidence in him.
Impact on electricity prices and the economy
People see the war as contributing to rising gas prices, both in the short and long term.
Despite the administration’s calls for patience, people do not think the war will improve the US economy. In fact, most see it as weakening you in the short term, at least.
Sentiments that the US will enter a recession are returning upwhile current economic ideas are backwards down.
This comes alongside a significant increase in the percentage of people who have seen price increases.
In terms of potential patience or sacrifice, they don’t think Americans should be willing to pay more for gas during a conflict.
Balance the war
Most Americans do not think the conflict with Iran is going well so far. It is mainly those who do not allow conflict in the first place that hold this view. .
People who don’t think it’s going well express a collective uncertainty: they don’t feel they’ve gotten an explanation from the Trump administration. Many are not sure how long it will last. They see no benefit, not in making the US safer, or in making the economy stronger.
So what: How can people check things going forward?
From the list of possible US goals, the most important to the American people is to see the war end as quickly as possible.
But there are other important goals for many Americans, too, including making sure the Iranian people are free and stopping Iran’s nuclear program.
And it will not be acceptable to many to conclude that the state is still in power.
If those desires between the goals and the immediate end seem to be in conflict, it connects to the ongoing call to get more explanation from the management.
Fewer today than when the war began say that the administration has clearly defined US objectives.
Just under half think that US ground troops will be needed. Opinions are almost divided on this, whether one believes that things are going well in the US or not.
However, no benefit is widely considered in terms of national security. More than one-third think the conflict will make the US safer even in the long term.
There is a lot of uncertainty about how long this will last. Many think this will go on for months, if not years. About a third are not sure.
Disapproval of US military action in Iran has grown since the start of the war, and the longer people think the conflict will last, the more disapproval there is.
To emphasize that: Americans see this as a war of choice, not a war of necessity.
Support from the president’s bases – but less than that
MAGA stays behind Trump and war. They have confidence heeven when they thought it might take a long time, and they were very agreeable to the way he handled the situation.
Contextually, this pattern of support from MAGA is consistent with what we’ve seen in other fields — across disciplines, including the military — over the years.
Trump’s views remain important in all of this. For many Americans, the approval of the war and how it goes has a lot to do with whether or not they trust him.
MAGA Republicans also say that Trump is doing what he promised in the 2024 campaign regarding Iran.
President Trump’s overall approval rating is virtually unchanged from before the start of the controversy. It has been in the 40% or low 40s for many months. He continues to receive strong support from Republicans.
But on some measures, including managing the economy and inflation, it gets the lowest marks. And the Republicans don’t do as well on those as they do on immigrants.
Overall, those who approve of the action against Iran are mainly Republicans, who trust him, who think that the conflict strengthens the position of the US in the world, and that it strengthens the security of the US. They see it as a war of necessity, not choice.
People who do not approve of this action tend to be many Democrats and independents without party affiliation with the president, who believe it will make the US less safe (both in the long and short term), and who think it will take months, if not years, or who are unsure about its duration.
This CBS News/YouGov poll was conducted with a nationally representative sample of 3,335 US adults interviewed between March 17-20, 2026. The sample was weighted to be representative of adults nationwide in terms of gender, age, race, and education, based on the Census American Community Survey and the Current Population Survey, and 2024 polls. The margin of error is ±2.1 points.
