Fox News Poll: Majority of Voters Skeptical About Trump's Strategy in Iran War

<p>Nearly seven months into the war with Iran, a Fox News national survey conducted from September 11-14, 2026, indicates that many voters believe the Trump administration lacks a clear strategy for ending the conflict. The poll shows that 71% of voters feel this way, including 95% of Democrats, 83% of independents, and 43% of Republicans.</p><p>Additionally, 47% of voters now believe the conflict will make the U.S. less safe in the long run, an increase from 39% in April. In contrast, 32% think it will make the country safer, while 20% see no difference. The rise in concern is particularly notable among White voters, voters under 45, and independents.</p><p>Sixty percent of respondents stated that U.S. military action against Iran was the wrong decision, compared to 37% who believe it was the right choice. This marks an increase in opposition to the war, with a 23-point margin now compared to 17 points in June (58% to 41%). The shift in attitudes against the war is observed across most demographic groups, especially among Hispanic voters, voters under 30, moderates, and voters aged 65 and older.</p><p>Republican pollster Daron Shaw, who conducts the Fox News Poll alongside Democrat Chris Anderson, noted, "Typically, the public rallies around the president in response to a foreign policy crisis. But two things are different here. First, President Trump hasn’t consistently and forcefully made the case for the war and the U.S. doesn’t have boots on the ground. Both of those things matter for public opinion."</p><p>Trump’s overall job performance is rated at 39% approval and 61% disapproval. His approval rating on foreign policy stands at 37%, a second-term low, which is just one point above his first-term low of 36% in September 2019.</p><p>When asked about the most important issue facing the country, only 4% of voters mentioned Iran, and just 1% cited foreign policy in general. In comparison, 34% identified the cost of living as the top issue.</p><p>Moreover, voters now prefer Democrats over Republicans by a 10-point margin regarding foreign policy, a reversal from the previous midterm cycle when Republicans were trusted more by 6 points in September 2022.</p><p>Regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza, only 48% of voters expressed support for Israel over Palestinians, a decrease from 54% in June and a high of 68% at the conflict's outset in October 2023. The decline in support for Israel has been most pronounced among women, Hispanic voters, voters under 45, voters with a college degree, and Democrats, while Republican support has decreased by 10 points.</p><p>On the issue of Ukraine, 55% of voters support continued U.S. financial aid to combat Russia, while 39% oppose it, showing little change over the past two years. Democrats generally favor supporting Ukraine, while Republicans and independents are divided.</p><p>As Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to the U.S. approaches, 45% of voters believe Trump is not tough enough on China, compared to 20% who think he is too tough, and 30% who feel his approach is appropriate. This sentiment is shared across party lines, with the largest percentages of Democrats (44%), Republicans (47%), and independents (44%) agreeing that Trump is not tough enough on China.</p><p>The survey was conducted with a sample of 1,211 registered voters randomly selected from a national voter file, with a margin of sampling error of ±3 percentage points.</p>