A new AP-NORC poll reveals that a significant majority of Americans continue to disapprove of Donald Trump’s approach to Iran, even as his administration recently announced a deal with Tehran.
The survey, conducted as Trump pivoted from military threats to diplomatic overtures, underscores the deep unpopularity of the three-month conflict, with public sentiment remaining largely unchanged despite the recent agreement.
Approximately two-thirds, or 65%, of U.S. adults express disapproval of how Trump is managing issues with Iran. This widespread discontent, however, is sharply divided along partisan lines.
While the vast majority of Democrats and independents view Trump’s actions negatively, only 28% of Republicans share this sentiment.
This mirrors his overall job approval, which stands at 37%, consistent with an AP-NORC poll from May.
The survey, conducted between June 11 and 17, followed Trump’s decision to de-escalate military threats against Iran and coincided with his announcement of a deal.
This agreement, finalized just before its signing on Wednesday, authorized an end to the U.S. naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz and allowed Iran to resume oil sales.
Beyond the immediate benefits for Iran, the deal also reopens the strait without tolls for two months, restarts discussions between the U.S. and Iran regarding Tehran’s nuclear program, and mandates that Tehran dilute its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
Despite the agreement, some Republicans voiced dissatisfaction.
David Farrington, a 79-year-old Republican-leaning independent from Fort Worth, Texas, expressed frustration that the deal focused on the strait rather than securing more significant concessions on Iran’s nuclear weapons program.
“Any agreement regarding the strait is hardly what I would consider a recognizable concession on the part of Iran,” Farrington stated. “So, I consider that some fluff that attempts to make this agreement look better when it’s not.”
Public approval of Trump’s handling of Iran has remained consistently low over recent months. Only about one-third of U.S. adults approve of his approach in the new poll, a figure consistent with May’s findings.
Donald McBride, a 28-year-old independent in Plano, Texas, who voted for Trump, expressed frustration with the president’s perceived failure to uphold his campaign promise to avoid foreign wars.
“I would like the war to end,” McBride said. “The original objective of the war was to end the Iranian regime, and that’s just not possible. I don’t really know why we’d continue fighting.”
The poll indicates a broad desire among Americans for an end to military action in Iran.
Even with a deal on the horizon, 53% of U.S. adults believe American military action against Iran had “gone too far,” a slight decrease from 59% in March.
Conversely, about 4 in 10 Republicans in the latest poll considered the action “about right,” while 37% felt it “had not gone far enough.”
Joan Jones, a 64-year-old independent in northwest Florida, offered a contrasting view, asserting that the United States’ actions in Iran were necessary to counter the perceived threat.
“Those attacks are ultimately to protect us from nuclear attacks,” Jones explained. “I think we have to go through that … and eliminate that worry so we don’t have that hovering over us.”
Beyond Iran, Trump’s approach to Israel also garners limited public support, with only about 34% of U.S. adults approving of his handling of the issue.
Tensions have reportedly escalated between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump, particularly after the president criticized recent Israeli attacks in Lebanon, which were seen as jeopardizing negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
James Huffman, a 69-year-old Republican in Medway, Ohio, believes Trump is employing an ineffective strategy with Netanyahu.
“Netanyahu is not going to do everything Trump wants. He’s going to do what he wants,” Huffman commented. “I just don’t think it’s effective.”
On the domestic front, approximately one-third of U.S. adults approve of Trump’s economic policies.
This figure remains consistent with last month’s poll, highlighting a persistent challenge for the president on an issue he often champions.
