From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Poll shows most Americans disapprove of US joining Iran war; half see Tehran as ‘enemy’ and another 25% as ‘unfriendly’
Nava Freiberg is The Times of Israel's deputy diplomatic correspondent.
As speculation mounts over whether Washington will join Israel’s operation against Iran, Americans express disapproval of how US President Donald Trump is handling issues related to the warring countries, according to a June 13-16 poll by the Economist/YouGov.
Asked whether they “approve” or “disapprove” of Trump’s handling of Israel and Iran, 37% said they approved the handling of both, while 44% disapproved of his handling of Israel and 41% disapproved of his handling of Iran. Trump’s net approval rating on Iran stands at –4, and on Israel, –7.
The poll found that 50% of Americans consider Iran an enemy to the US, 25% say it is unfriendly, and 5% say it is an ally or friendly.
Still, most prefer diplomacy over force. A majority (56%) believe the US should engage in negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program, including 58% of Democrats and 61% of Republicans. This represents a sharp decline in opposition compared to 2015, when 32% of Americans — most notably 52% of Republicans — opposed nuclear talks during the Obama administration, notes YouGov.
Across party lines, just 16% of Americans say the US should intervene militarily, while a solid 60% oppose it.
The poll found that 36% of Americans consider Israel an ally of the US, while nearly half say it is “friendly” or are unsure. Ten percent consider Israel unfriendly, and 6% call it an enemy.
The Times of Israel Community.