Recent polling conducted by AP-NORC reveals that a majority of Americans disapprove of President Donald Trump's handling of the ongoing conflict with Iran, even as his overall approval rating remains stable at 37%. The survey was carried out from June 11 to June 17, 2026, coinciding with Trump's announcement of a proposed deal with Iran and the decision to end the U.S. naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the poll, approximately 65% of U.S. adults expressed discontent with Trump's approach to Iran, highlighting a clear partisan divide in responses. While nearly all Democrats and independents voiced negative opinions about the president's actions, only 28% of Republicans felt similarly. This discrepancy illustrates the complexities of public opinion regarding foreign policy under Trump.
The survey results suggest that many Americans are unhappy with the three-month-long war in Iran, as Trump had recently shifted from a threatening stance towards Iran to reopening negotiations. Despite the unrest, Trump's overall job approval has remained unchanged since a previous poll in May. The poll was taken shortly after Trump halted threats of escalating military action against Iran and as negotiations for the agreement were underway.
Criticism of the recent deal with Iran is prevalent among some Republicans, who feel it grants Iran significant advantages, such as the ability to freely sell its oil. David Farrington, a 79-year-old Republican-leaning independent from Fort Worth, Texas, expressed dissatisfaction with the focus of the agreement. He characterized it as lacking substantive concessions from Iran regarding its nuclear weapons program.
Only about one-third of Americans approve of Trump's handling of Iran, demonstrating little change from prior polling. Discontent regarding the conflict is palpable among voters, many of whom believe that American military involvement has exceeded reasonable limits. Interestingly, while a slight majority of overall respondents (53%) believe actions against Iran have gone too far, 40% of Republicans think the measures taken have been appropriate or insufficient.
Public sentiment is similarly critical towards Trump's handling of Israel, with only 34% approval ratings. Ongoing tensions between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have surged, particularly as Trump has openly criticized Israeli military actions in Lebanon, which could potentially disrupt U.S.-Iran negotiations. James Huffman, a 69-year-old Republican from Medway, Ohio, remarked that Trump’s approach to Netanyahu has been ineffective, suggesting that the Israeli leader will prioritize his own agenda over Trump's directives.
In terms of economic performance, Trump's approval remains low, with only about 33% of U.S. adults expressing satisfaction with his approach to the economy. Patricia Bailey, a 42-year-old Republican from Parkersburg, West Virginia, claimed that rising prices have left her disappointed, feeling that Trump has let her down by not fulfilling his economic promises due to distractions from the war. In contrast, Joan Jones, a 64-year-old independent from northwest Florida, has a more optimistic view, stating that the economy appears to be thriving based on consumer activity in her region.
The AP-NORC poll, which involved a sample of 3,040 adults, was designed to reflect the U.S. population accurately. With a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2.8 percentage points, these findings shed light on the ongoing challenges faced by Trump's administration, particularly concerning foreign policy and economic management.
