Topline
Only 24% of Americans think the Iran war was worth the cost and just 23% say the U.S. is in a stronger position with Iran now than it was before the conflict, according to a new survey—the latest since Trump signed an agreement with Iran that showed poor reviews of the war’s outcome.
President Donald Trump speaks to the press after stepping off Air Force One at Reading Regional Airport (RDG) in Berks County, Pennsylvania, on June 23, 2026. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Images)
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Key Facts
A plurality, 35%, of respondents said the U.S. is in a weaker position than it was before President Donald Trump ordered strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, according to a Reuters/Ipsos survey of 1,262 U.S. adults taken June 18-22 (margin of error 3).
Sixty-three percent of respondents, including 52% of Republicans, believe the truce between the U.S. and Iran will hold.
The survey coincides with a return to the lowest approval rating of Trump’s second term in Reuters/Ipsos polling: 34%.
A poll from CBS taken after the deal between the U.S. and Iran to end the military conflict found similar results: 22% said the agreement is better for the U.S., 37% said it is better for Iran and 41% said it is equal for about each (the CBS/YouGov poll of 2,519 U.S. adults was taken June 17-19 and has a margin of error of 2.4).
The CBS survey also found just 31% said the conflict was worth the costs to the U.S. and 69% said it wasn’t.
Big Number
38%. That’s Trump’s overall approval rating in The New York Times’ poll tracker, down from 41% before the U.S. attacked Iran.
Key Background
The U.S. and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding last week to end all military hostilities between the two sides, pending a final agreement to be reached within 60 days. The agreement reopened the Strait of Hormuz without tolls during the 60-day period, though Iran has threatened to close the key oil passage over Israel’s continued attacks in Lebanon, which Iran says is a violation of the agreement since allies of both sides were also required to cease military operations. Critics on both sides of the aisle have said the agreement fails to meet Trump’s key objectives to curb Iran’s nuclear program, facilitate regime change and end its ballistic missile program. The nuclear discussions are part of the second phase of talks taking place during the 60-day negotiating period, but Trump has largely backed off his push to end Iran’s ballistic missile program, saying recently that it’s fair for Iran to have missiles if other countries have them, and claimed he accomplished regime change by killing multiple top leaders in the strikes.
further reading
Trump Approval Rating Holds Steady At 37% Amid Iran Deal (Forbes)
Less Than A Quarter Of People Outside The U.S. Trust Trump (Forbes)