Support for President Donald Trump’s war with Iran appears to be softening among Republicans, according to a new survey, as gasoline prices climb back to around $4 a gallon. The shift suggests that economic pressure may be making the conflict harder to sell politically, even inside Trump’s own party.
The survey from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs found Republican backing for the war fell from 71% in June to 61% in July. That is still a majority, but it marks a notable drop over a short period.
Among everyone outside the Republican base, disapproval remains overwhelming, according to the description of the poll. That leaves the conflict with limited broad public support and highlights how divided voters remain over the military action.
With fuel costs rising again, the politics of the Iran war may be changing from a foreign policy debate into a pocketbook issue for many Americans. If that trend continues, pressure on the White House could grow as public concerns about the conflict and its economic effects become more closely linked.
