U.S. Public Opinion Shifts Slightly on Iran War as Conflict Approaches Two-Month Mark

As the war in Iran approaches its two-month milestone, a new Fox News Poll reveals a modest increase in public support for the military action, though Americans remain deeply divided over the conflict’s key aspects and potential consequences.

The survey, released Thursday, indicates that support for the military action in Iran has risen to 45%, up from 42% last month. Despite this uptick, a majority of Americans—55%—still oppose the military intervention.

Voter perception of the war’s progress has flipped since March, with a slim majority now believing things are going well in Iran (51% compared to 49% who disagree). This marks a reversal from the previous month when 52% of voters felt the action was not proceeding well.

The increase in support can be attributed to several demographic groups, notably non-MAGA Republicans, whose support jumped 11 percentage points, Hispanic voters (+10), men over age 45 (+8), and independents (+5).

Concerns about national security implications remain, though they have slightly diminished. While 36% of respondents believe the military action will make the U.S. safer, 39% think it will make the country less safe, and 25% expect no significant difference. This represents a narrowing gap compared to March when 44% believed the action would make America less safe.

Most Americans question whether the war’s costs justify its potential benefits. A 57% majority believes the military action will not improve U.S. safety enough to justify the problems it has created, while 43% feel the short-term challenges will ultimately be worthwhile. This skepticism cuts across partisan lines but with significant variation—approximately 30% of Republicans, 70% of independents, and 80% of Democrats doubt the justification for the costs involved.

Voters identified avoiding a prolonged conflict and keeping the Strait of Hormuz open as their top priorities for the operation, with 80% rating both objectives as “extremely” or “very” important. Other significant priorities include ending Iran’s nuclear weapons program (72%), supporting the Iranian people (65%), and facilitating changes to Iran’s government (55%).

The U.S. military’s performance in the conflict receives generally positive marks, with 59% of respondents rating it as excellent (32%) or good (27%). This assessment varies sharply by political affiliation—81% of Republicans and 53% of independents view the military’s performance positively, compared to just 40% of Democrats.

Republican pollster Daron Shaw, who conducts Fox News polls alongside Democrat Chris Anderson, noted this partisan divide: “One of the more remarkable statistics attesting to the country’s intense polarization is that when asked about the U.S. military’s performance in Iran, by 20 percentage points Democrats rate it negatively, and it’s difficult to proffer an explanation other than those who dislike President Trump are unwilling to say anything positive about anything he touches.”

The survey comes as President Trump announced an extension of the U.S. ceasefire with Iran, which was set to expire. Meanwhile, peace talks in Pakistan involving Vice President JD Vance have been delayed due to Iran’s hesitation to participate, further complicating diplomatic efforts amid an ongoing U.S. blockade on Iranian ports.

Public opinion on Trump’s approach to Iran has shifted dramatically since 2019. Currently, 40% of voters believe he has been too tough on Iran—a significant increase from 18% in May 2019—while 28% say he hasn’t been tough enough, and 30% consider his approach appropriate. This contrasts with perceptions of his China policy, where 40% feel he’s not being tough enough.

The poll also assessed broader foreign policy opinions, revealing that Americans are evenly split on U.S. support for Israel, with 40% saying the U.S. is too supportive, 40% finding the support appropriate, and 19% believing it’s insufficient. Regarding Ukraine, 39% believe the U.S. should provide more support against Russia, 26% want less involvement, and 34% approve of current assistance levels.

The Fox News survey was conducted April 17-20, 2026, with a sample of 1,001 registered voters and has a margin of error of ±3 percentage points.