WASHINGTON — As the U.S. military campaign against Iran enters its second month, Americans are far more focused on what it could cost them at the pump than on battlefield outcomes.
A new Pew Research Center survey finds that 69% of Americans are concerned about higher gas and fuel prices tied to the conflict — the top concern among several potential consequences of the war.
The findings reflect a broader unease about the conflict’s ripple effects, with majorities also expressing concern about the possibility of U.S. ground troops being deployed, rising military casualties, terrorist attacks on U.S. soil, and the war expanding beyond the Middle East.
Public opinion is sharply divided on how the war is being conducted. About 45% of Americans say the U.S. is not doing enough to avoid civilian casualties, while 41% say it is doing enough, underscoring a closely split national view.
Confidence in President Donald Trump’s handling of the conflict is also limited. Just 35% of Americans say they are confident in his decision-making on Iran policy, while 64% express little or no confidence.
The survey highlights stark partisan divides. Most Republicans say the U.S. is doing enough to limit civilian harm, while large majorities of Democrats say the opposite. Views on Trump’s leadership are similarly split, with strong support among Republicans and minimal confidence among Democrats.
Americans are also uncertain about the long-term impact of the conflict. The public is evenly divided on whether U.S. military action will make Iran more or less likely to develop a nuclear weapon, while more people believe the Iranian population will ultimately be worse off than better off.
Despite those divisions, the issue remains highly salient, with more than three-quarters of Americans saying the conflict is personally important to them — a sign that the war’s economic and geopolitical stakes are being felt well beyond the battlefield.
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