Americans remain critical of Trump’s approach to Iran

The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln conducts U.S. blockade operations in the Arabian Sea on April 16, 2026. (U.S. Navy via Getty Images) Two months into the U.S. military conflict with Iran, Americans continue to express significant doubts about how President Donald Trump and his administration are handling the situation. About six-in-ten Americans (62%) disapprove of Trump’s handling of the military action against Iran, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. That includes 45% who strongly disapprove. Just over a third (36%) approve. These views have held steady since March, when 61% disapproved of Trump’s handling of the conflict and 37% approved. Nearly six-in-ten (59%) say that the U.S. made the wrong decision in using military force in Iran, while 38% say this was the right decision. This is also unchanged from the March survey. However, the share of Americans who say the military action is going not too or not at all well has ticked up. Today, 51% say it’s not going well, compared with 45% a month ago. Roughly two-in-ten (22%) say the military action is going extremely or very well. About this research This Pew Research Center analysis looks at Americans’ views of the U.S. military