CNN Poll Finds Growing U.S. Opposition to Iran War as Republican Support for Trump Shows Signs of Strain

September 22, 2026 — A new CNN/SSRS survey finds broad public dissatisfaction with the Iran conflict, with nearly two-thirds saying the United States is not winning and declining Republican approval of President Donald Trump’s handling of the war.

Americans are growing more skeptical of the U.S. war with Iran, according to a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS nearly seven months after the conflict began.

Nearly two-thirds of adults surveyed said the United States is not winning the war, while large majorities also questioned its costs, benefits and the administration’s broader strategy.

Only 26% of U.S. adults approved of President Donald Trump’s handling of the situation in Iran, down from 33% in CNN polling conducted about a month after fighting began.

Overall approval of Trump’s handling of foreign affairs fell to 29%, while 71% disapproved, marking a new low in CNN polling across both of his presidential terms.

The decline was especially notable among Republicans. In March, 73% of Republicans approved of Trump’s handling of Iran; the new survey puts that figure at 60%.

Among Republicans and Republican-leaning adults under age 45, 53% disapproved of Trump’s handling of Iran, indicating a notable generational divide within his broader political coalition.

Dissatisfaction was also visible among Republicans who do not identify with the MAGA movement, with 54% of that group disapproving of Trump’s approach to the conflict.

Three-quarters of adults said Trump lacks a clear plan for Iran, while 78% said he is not doing enough to bring the war to an end.

About seven in ten respondents said a long-term conflict is at least somewhat likely, and 32% described that outcome as very likely, the highest share since the war began.

The poll also found 70% saying the war has hurt U.S. interests, compared with 18% who said it has helped American interests on the international stage.

Seventy-six percent said the conflict has not been worth either the loss of American lives or the financial burden it has imposed on the federal government.

Partisan differences remain substantial. Ninety-seven percent of Democrats and 82% of independents said the war has not been worth its costs, compared with 45% of Republicans.

Republicans were more likely to see progress: 70% said the United States is winning the war, compared with 31% of independents and 13% of Democrats.

Even within the Republican coalition, however, views were mixed on ending the fighting, with 53% saying Trump is doing enough and a substantial minority disagreeing.

Trump’s senior foreign-policy team also received negative overall ratings: Secretary of State Marco Rubio stood at 40% approval, Vice President JD Vance at 36%, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at 34%.

Among Republicans, those officials remained much more popular, with 81% approving of Rubio, 79% approving of Vance and 72% approving of Hegseth in the survey.

The polling arrives as Trump attends the United Nations General Assembly, where the Iran war, Gulf security and disruptions to shipping routes are central subjects in diplomatic meetings.

The financial stakes are also rising. U.S. Central Command estimated the conflict had cost $43.6 billion through September 3, including sharply higher spending on missiles and other munitions.

Associated Press reporting says the war has also contributed to regional instability, higher energy costs and pressure on U.S. missile-defense inventories, adding to domestic political concern.

The CNN poll surveyed 1,206 U.S. adults online and by telephone September 16-17. Its full-sample results carry a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.