Poll: 2/3 of Americans Believe Trump Unclear on US-Iran War Goals
A Reuters/Ipsos poll completed today shows that two-thirds of American respondents believe President Trump has not clearly explained the reasons for the war with Iran. The poll also indicates a slight recovery in Trump's approval rating from its lowest point this term.
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- 📰 Published: May 12, 2026 at 16:28
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US-Iran War Key News
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency Washington 11th comprehensive foreign report) According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll completed today, two-thirds of American respondents believe President Trump has not clearly explained the reasons for the war with Iran, while also showing a slight recovery in Trump's approval rating from its lowest point this term.
Reuters reported that this 4-day poll showed deep public concern among Americans about soaring oil prices, and many voters blamed Trump's Republican allies for their financial difficulties.
Since the US-Israel coalition launched bombing on Iran on February 28, the US-Iran war has continued for over two months. Approximately 66% of respondents believe Trump has not "clearly explained the goals of US military intervention in Iran." Among these 66% of respondents, not only Democratic supporters but also one-third of Republican voters supported this view.
Although the US-Iran war has slightly cooled down due to peace proposals from both countries, it has led to a roughly 50% increase in gasoline prices nationwide. Approximately 63% of respondents stated that recent oil price increases have impacted their household finances, a higher proportion than the 55% in the March 17-19 poll.
This survey shows that about 36% of Americans approve of Trump's performance, a 2 percentage point increase from the lowest point of 34% at the end of April, but still lower than the 40% before the war began.
The Reuters/Ipsos poll shows that three-quarters of respondents, including half of Republican supporters, believe the Trump administration should bear at least some responsibility for the soaring oil prices. When asked which party should bear more responsibility, 65% of respondents said the Republican Party, while 27% said the Democratic Party.
In addition, four-fifths of Americans expect oil prices to rise further.
The Republican Party will defend its slim majority in both the Senate and House of Representatives in the midterm elections, and recent court rulings are expected to make district demarcation more favorable to Republicans. Republican strategists say that if oil prices fall, the Republican Party's chances of winning will further increase.
However, no agreement has yet been reached between Washington and Tehran. The poll shows that if oil prices remain high, about 30% of Americans plan to cut back on summer travel plans, with many expecting to cancel or shorten their trips.
Despite Trump's repeated promises that oil prices would fall after the war, analysts warn that this is unlikely to happen quickly.
Furthermore, the public is uncertain about who has the upper hand in the conflict; only one-third of respondents believe the US has the advantage, about one-seventh believe Iran has the advantage, and the rest said they were unsure or believed neither side had an advantage.
The latest Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted online, surveying 1254 adult respondents nationwide, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. (Compiled by: Chang Ming-Hsuan) 1150512
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency Washington 11th comprehensive foreign report) According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll completed today, two-thirds of American respondents believe President Trump has not clearly explained the reasons for the war with Iran, while also showing a slight recovery in Trump's approval rating from its lowest point this term.
Reuters reported that this 4-day poll showed deep public concern among Americans about soaring oil prices, and many voters blamed Trump's Republican allies for their financial difficulties.
Since the US-Israel coalition launched bombing on Iran on February 28, the US-Iran war has continued for over two months. Approximately 66% of respondents believe Trump has not "clearly explained the goals of US military intervention in Iran." Among these 66% of respondents, not only Democratic supporters but also one-third of Republican voters supported this view.
Although the US-Iran war has slightly cooled down due to peace proposals from both countries, it has led to a roughly 50% increase in gasoline prices nationwide. Approximately 63% of respondents stated that recent oil price increases have impacted their household finances, a higher proportion than the 55% in the March 17-19 poll.
This survey shows that about 36% of Americans approve of Trump's performance, a 2 percentage point increase from the lowest point of 34% at the end of April, but still lower than the 40% before the war began.
The Reuters/Ipsos poll shows that three-quarters of respondents, including half of Republican supporters, believe the Trump administration should bear at least some responsibility for the soaring oil prices. When asked which party should bear more responsibility, 65% of respondents said the Republican Party, while 27% said the Democratic Party.
In addition, four-fifths of Americans expect oil prices to rise further.
The Republican Party will defend its slim majority in both the Senate and House of Representatives in the midterm elections, and recent court rulings are expected to make district demarcation more favorable to Republicans. Republican strategists say that if oil prices fall, the Republican Party's chances of winning will further increase.
However, no agreement has yet been reached between Washington and Tehran. The poll shows that if oil prices remain high, about 30% of Americans plan to cut back on summer travel plans, with many expecting to cancel or shorten their trips.
Despite Trump's repeated promises that oil prices would fall after the war, analysts warn that this is unlikely to happen quickly.
Furthermore, the public is uncertain about who has the upper hand in the conflict; only one-third of respondents believe the US has the advantage, about one-seventh believe Iran has the advantage, and the rest said they were unsure or believed neither side had an advantage.
The latest Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted online, surveying 1254 adult respondents nationwide, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. (Compiled by: Chang Ming-Hsuan) 1150512
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.