WASHINGTON, D.C. — About three months after the U.S. and Israel first launched airstrikes against Iran, and just before Iran and the U.S. agreed to a peace deal, 34% of Americans said they approved of the military action the United States took against Iran. These data, collected June 1-15, indicate the public climate President Donald Trump faced before his announcement on June 14 of a deal with Iranian officials to end the war.
Gallup has frequently asked Americans whether they approve or disapprove of various military actions the U.S. has taken since the 1980s, most often shortly after the action began or took place. Nearly all of the military campaigns asked about had majority approval, except for actions taken against Libya in 2011 and Syria in 2017-2018.
For some military actions, Gallup updated approval weeks or months later. Among the involvements for which Gallup measured approval more than once, support typically declined the longer they continued. In addition to the eight-percentage-point decline in support for U.S. military action against Libya in 2011 and the 18-point decline in support for the military presence in Haiti in 1994, Gallup saw a 16-point decline in support for the Iraq War in 2003. Approval fell from 76% in the first reading at the start of the war to 60% in the second reading nine months later.
These historical trends suggest that approval of the United States’ military action against Iran may have been higher when it began at the end of February. Indeed, a Quinnipiac poll conducted in early March found approval among registered voters at 40%, six points higher than what Gallup found in early June. But support for involvement with Iran in the low 40% range in March would still make that military action among the least favored at the outset of those Gallup has measured since the 1980s.
Approval Higher Among Republicans
Approval of the recent action in Iran was significantly higher among Republicans (79%) than among independents (26%) and Democrats (8%). Adults aged 55 and older (47%) and those aged 35 to 54 (32%) were significantly more likely than adults aged 18 to 34 (15%) to approve of the military action against Iran. Men (40%) were also more likely than women (28%) to approve.
Stay up to date with the latest insights by following @Gallup on X and on Instagram.
Learn more about how the Gallup Poll Social Series works. View complete question responses and trends (PDF download).
