A stark majority of Americans are turning against the Trump administration’s military campaign in Iran, according to a new CBS News/YouGov poll released Tuesday. The findings arrive as the White House escalates the conflict into a full-scale naval blockade following the collapse of high-stakes diplomatic negotiations in Pakistan.
The survey, conducted between April 8 and April 10, reveals a nation gripped by apprehension. Sixty-eight percent of respondents reported feeling “worried” about the conflict, while 57 percent identified as “stressed” and 54 percent as “angry.” In contrast, only 32 percent expressed confidence in the administration’s strategy.
Disapproval of President Trump’s handling of the situation has climbed to 64 percent, mirroring a broader decline in his overall job approval rating to 39 percent.
While Americans identified the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program as top priorities, the poll highlights a massive “credibility gap.”
- 57% say the U.S. has failed to secure the Strait.
- 58% believe the mission to “free the Iranian people” is stalled.
- 49% see no permanent end to Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
Critics argue this disconnect stems from a lack of clarity. Over 60 percent of the public believes President Trump, 79, lacks a coherent plan, with 64 percent noting that the administration frequently shifts its stated goals.
The domestic souring coincides with a total breakdown in diplomacy. Vice President JD Vance departed Islamabad Sunday after 21 hours of failed peace talks. Vance cited Tehran’s refusal to abandon its nuclear infrastructure as the primary dealbreaker.
President Trump appeared unmoved by the diplomatic stalemate. “I don’t care,” he told reporters on Saturday. “Whether we make a deal or not makes no difference to me.”
On Sunday, the President ordered a total blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Central Command confirmed the operation took effect at 10 a.m. EST Monday, effectively severing Iran’s maritime trade routes.
The human and economic toll is weighing heavily on the electorate. Fifty-one percent of Americans report financial hardship due to skyrocketing gas prices linked to the war, while 63 percent rate the current U.S. economy as “bad.”
Public outrage also follows a controversial Truth Social post from last week in which the President threatened that “a whole civilization will die tonight.” The poll found that 59 percent of Americans disliked the rhetoric, which legal experts warned could be interpreted as a threat of civilizational destruction.
The White House has not yet responded to requests for comment on the falling poll numbers or the shifting military timeline.
