Public opinion in the United States regarding military actions against Iran and the nation's economic outlook was surveyed by two different organizations in late February and early March 2026. A CBS News/YouGov survey, conducted prior to reported U.S. airstrikes, indicated that most Americans favored diplomatic or economic pressure on Iran, with a divided stance on military intervention. A subsequent Fox News national survey, conducted after U.S. strikes began, showed public opinion evenly split on current military action despite a majority identifying Iran as a national security threat.
Public Opinion on Iran Policy
Threat Perception and Policy Preferences
A Fox News survey conducted from February 28 to March 2, 2026, found that 61% of voters considered Iran to be "a real national security threat" to the United States. This perception was largely consistent with previous surveys since 2006, peaking at 73% in June 2025, prior to a U.S. military mission identified as "Operation Midnight Hammer."
Prior to the recent airstrikes, a CBS News/YouGov survey (February 25-27, 2026) reported that most Americans supported applying pressure or engaging in diplomacy with Iranian leadership.
This survey indicated that a larger segment of the population favored U.S. economic or diplomatic pressure to address the Iranian ruling regime, rather than military force for regime change, though a substantial majority believed the U.S. should engage with Iran in some capacity. Historically, CBS News polling has reflected a perception of Iran or its nuclear capability as a threat, often believed to be manageable through diplomatic means.
Support for Military Action
The Fox News survey, conducted after the United States, in a joint effort with Israel, initiated strikes on Iran identified as "Operation Epic Fury" on a Saturday morning, revealed that public support for current U.S. military action was evenly split, with 50% approving and 50% disapproving.
Among specific demographic groups:
- 59% of military veterans approved of the U.S. strikes, while 39% disapproved.
- Over 80% of Republicans approved.
- Nearly 80% of Democrats and a majority of independents (60% or more) disapproved.
Before these strikes, the CBS News/YouGov survey noted an increase in approval for U.S. military action specifically to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. This shift occurred after President Trump's State of the Union address on February 24, resulting in a divided public at the outset of the conflict.
Expectations for Conflict Duration
Regarding the potential duration of a conflict with Iran, both CBS News/YouGov surveys indicated that more respondents anticipated it would last months or years rather than days or weeks. Support for military action was more common among those expecting a short conflict, while opposition was higher among those who anticipated a prolonged engagement.
Congressional Approval for Military Action
An overwhelming majority of respondents in the CBS News/YouGov survey believed that Congressional approval would be required for military action.
Prior Strikes Assessment
A previous Fox News survey, revisiting attitudes about U.S. airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities in June 2025, found voters divided on their success: 30% deemed them mostly successful, 31% mostly a failure, and 37% considered it too soon to determine.
Presidential Handling and Approval
President Trump's Handling of Iran
Opinion on President Trump's handling of Iran was divided in the Fox News survey:
- 51% of voters believed his approach had made the U.S. less safe, an increase from 43% in July 2025.
- 29% believed his actions had made the U.S. safer.
- For comparison, a 2023 Fox News survey indicated 50% believed former President Biden's handling of Iran made the U.S. less safe, while 12% thought it made the U.S. safer.
Among military veterans, 37% believed Trump's actions made the country safer, and 44% believed they made it less safe. Approximately 60% of Republicans believed the president's actions enhanced U.S. safety, while nearly 80% of Democrats and a majority of independents believed his performance reduced U.S. safety.
The CBS News/YouGov survey, conducted before the strikes, reported that the president's approval rating for his handling of Iran was slightly higher than his overall approval, though it remained net negative. Public perception of the president's explanation of the U.S. position improved slightly after the State of the Union address, but a significant majority remained unsatisfied at the start of the action.
Broader Presidential Ratings and Concerns
The Fox News survey indicated President Trump's foreign policy approval rating at 40%, with 60% disapproving. His overall job performance stood at 43% approval and 57% disapproval.
Regarding the U.S.'s international standing, 56% of voters believed the U.S. was less respected globally than four years prior, an improvement from 61% under former President Biden in 2024. Conversely, 30% believed the U.S. was more respected, up from 23% under Biden.
Two-thirds of voters expressed concern that President Trump's use of executive orders and actions without Congressional approval could permanently alter the country's system of checks and balances. Similar concerns were noted during former President Barack Obama's presidency.
Economic Outlook
Optimism about the economy, as expressed by the president in the State of the Union address, was not shared by most Americans, according to the CBS News/YouGov survey conducted before the strikes.
Expectations for the next year indicated a slowing economy or a potential recession, a sentiment that had been consistent. Overall ratings of the U.S. economy continued to be net-negative. A majority of respondents also believed the president portrayed inflation as better than its actual state. Prior to the Iran strikes, the president's issue approval ratings were consistent with those reported before his State of the Union address, and his overall approval had been relatively stable, showing a slight increase after the State of the Union.
Survey Methodologies
Fox News National Survey:
- Conducted: February 28 to March 2, 2026.
- Conducted by: Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R) for Fox News.
- Sample: 1,004 registered voters sampled from a national voter file.
- Margin of Error: ±3 percentage points for the full sample.
- Timing Context: All interviews were conducted after the U.S. strikes on Iran, identified as "Operation Epic Fury," began.
CBS News/YouGov Survey:
- Conducted: February 25-27, 2026.
- Conducted by: CBS News/YouGov.
- Sample: 2,264 U.S. adults, nationally representative.
- Margin of Error: ±2.5 points.
- Timing Context: Data was collected prior to the reported U.S. airstrikes on Iran. The sample was weighted to represent the adult population nationwide based on demographics (gender, age, race, education) and 2024 presidential vote.