Trump Claims Public Supports Iran War, Polls Indicate Otherwise

US President Donald Trump has claimed that the majority of Americans do not object to his administration’s policy of military conflict against Iran. Trump argued that the public’s main concern is currently the surge in fuel prices rather than the ongoing military operations.

Trump made the remarks to journalists at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, on Thursday (23/7). He referred to poll results which, according to him, show that the public is more worried about petrol prices than the armed conflict.

“The American people are not against the war. A recently released poll shows Americans do not want high petrol prices, but they are not against the war,” Trump said, as quoted by CNN.

However, Trump’s claim contradicts data from a national Washington Post-Ipsos survey released last week. The survey found that the majority of respondents do not support a war between the United States and Iran. Some 68% of respondents considered the war unjustified, while only 28% expressed support.

This 40-percentage-point gap in support is larger than that recorded in past surveys on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The data indicates widespread public rejection of the conflict, which began in late February.

Meanwhile, Trump’s popularity is reported to have continued to slide since the US, together with Israel, launched military operations against Iran. Political pressure in Washington has also increased, with renewed calls from several quarters for the president’s impeachment.

Criticism has come not only from the opposition but also from some of Trump’s own supporters. They view the expansion of military involvement in the Middle East as a betrayal of Trump’s campaign promises to reduce foreign interventions and prioritise domestic welfare.

To date, tensions continue to rise as CENTCOM military operations enter their twelfth consecutive night, fuelling concerns about the economic impact and wider global security stability. (Anadolu/Fer/I-1)