More than half of Americans are scared by the prospect of a war with Iran — and only 1 in 3 back the use of force as the Trump administration inches closer to military action against the Islamic Republic.
As President Donald Trump appears to be nearing military action against Tehran, just 32 percent of Americans back the use of force – with 37 percent outright opposed, according to a new exclusive JL Partners/Daily Mail poll.
Trump voters were more heavily in favor, with 58 percent supporting a strike, compared to Democratic voters, with only 15 percent signaling that it would be a good idea.
What truly ignites the polling data, however, are the reasons Americans believe are driving possible attacks.
While 43 percent believe the primary driver would be destroying Iran’s nuclear facilities, a remarkable 35 percent think Trump’s eye is on Iran’s vast oil reserves – a motive that ranks above stabilizing the Middle East, which 28 percent believe, and saving the Iranian people, which 22 percent think.
The findings lay bare a deeply uneasy nation, with 54 percent saying the prospect of war frightens them – rising to 62 percent among women.
And in a chilling verdict on the human cost, more Americans believe the United States itself would be left worse off by an attack than better off.
Thirty-three percent answered that they believed the US would be worse off, with 25 percent believing the country would be better off and 24 percent saying a strike would make no difference.
The US Navy has released photos showing the US military buildup in the Arabian Sea as President Donald Trump edges closer to a strike on Iran. New polling shows that only one in three registered voters support military action
The numbers were closer when voters were asked if Iran would be better off if the US got militarily involved, with 28 percent answering worse off and 26 percent answering better off.
Trump had previously called out the Islamic regime for the mass killings of protesters, telling members of the opposition movement that ‘help is on the way.’
More people also believed the world would be worse off after a US strike – with 30 percent expressing this view, compared to 23 percent who said the world would be in a better place.
For all three of those questions, Trump’s voters were an exception – with a near majority believing a US strike would leave the US, Iran and the world in a better spot.
When Trump hit three Iranian nuclear sites in June, he did so with a targeted strike.
There is little appetite for a full-scale military deployment, the poll found.
Just 35 percent believed the Army should be involved.
Numbers were similar when voters were asked about the Navy – 29 percent – and the Marines – 33 percent.
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What do you think would really drive the US to attack Iran: security concerns or oil interests?
President Donald Trump, pictured Friday arriving in Corpus Christi, Texas, could get hurt politically over an Iran strike, the new survey shows
He told reporters on the South Lawn before departing for Texas on Friday that ‘we haven’t made a final decision’ on whether to strike Iran
The Air Force got slightly higher approval, with 40 percent saying they should be involved.
Additionally, only one in four parents with military-aged sons would support the President going to war in Iran, with 54 percent opposed.
Trump-voting parents were split, with 40 percent saying they supported going to war in Iran and 38 percent opposed.
If the President were to seek regime change, 61 percent of voters said they’d like to see Iran hold democratic elections.
Another 18 percent said they’d like to see the US run Iran.
Just 4 percent said they’d want to see Reza Pahlavi, the exiled crown prince of Iran, lead the country uncontested.
The President would likely pay a political price too – with more voters saying a war in Iran would worsen their view of Trump than improve it.
The poll found that 34 percent said they’d think less of Trump, while just 17 percent would like the President more.
The biggest swath of Trump voters – 40 percent – answered that it would make no difference, while 35 percent said it would improve their view of the President, with just 12 percent saying they’d like him less.
Speaking to reporters outside the White House on Friday, Trump said ‘I’d love not to use’ the military to attack Iran, ‘but sometimes you have to,’ while also stating ‘we haven’t made a final decision’ on whether to strike.
