Poll: Republicans strongly back US strikes on Iran

New poll shows Americans sharply divided on Trump’s decision to bomb Iranian nuclear facilities, with a vast majority of Republicans backing the move, while nearly 9 in 10 Democrats oppose it.

By World Israel News Staff

Americans are sharply divided over President Donald Trump’s decision last week to bomb three Iranian nuclear facilities during Israel’s 12-day conflict with Iran, a new poll shows.

The poll, conducted by SSRS from June 22 to 23 and published by CNN TV on Tuesday, surveyed 1,030 American adults via text message, surveying them regarding the B-2 bomber and Tomahawk missile strikes on Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend.

A narrow majority of respondents (56%) say they disapprove of the strikes, compared to 44% who back the president’s one-day air campaign, dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer.

Opinions on the operation aligned closely with partisan identification, with more than 8 in 10 Republicans (82%) approving of the strikes, compared to just over 1 in 10 Democrats (12%), with independents split 40% to 60%, with a majority disapproving.

Less than half (45%) of Americans have a moderate or great deal of trust in Trump to handle the use of force properly vis-a-vis Iran, compared to 55% who have “not much” or no trust at all. The percentage who answered “not at all” (38%) greatly outnumbered those who have a great deal of trust (22%).

Republicans, however, largely trust the president regarding Iran, with 51% having a “great deal” of trust, and 37% who “moderately” trust the president.

Eighty percent of respondents said they were following the news regarding US airstrikes in Iran “very” or “somewhat closely.”

Just 27% of respondents said the strikes would make Iran less of a threat to the US, compared to 58% who said it would make Iran more of a threat.

Americans are more evenly divided on the question of whether Trump made a sufficient effort to reach a diplomatic solution with Iran before attacking, with 32% saying they believed Trump made a sufficient effort, compared to 39% who said he did not.

The poll also found Americans are strongly opposed to sending US troops into Iran, with just 9% supporting such a move, compared to 68% who said they were against it.