Poll: Trump's Iran Military Action Less Popular Than Iraq and Vietnam Wars

Donald Trump’s military actions in Iran are now among the least popular U.S. military campaigns in modern history, according to a new poll. A Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos survey released on Friday found that 61% of Americans believe using military force in Iran was a mistake.

This level of opposition places public sentiment about Trump’s Iran campaign on par with attitudes toward the Iraq War and the Vietnam War—two of the most divisive conflicts in U.S. history.

Public Opposition Mirrors Iraq and Vietnam Wars

In May 2006, three years after the U.S. invasion of Iraq, a Washington Post/ABC News poll found that 59% of Americans considered the war a mistake. By that time, the conflict had already claimed the lives of over 2,400 U.S. troops, and the military was engaged in some of the bloodiest fighting of the entire war.

Despite the high death toll and prolonged conflict in Iraq, Trump’s Iran campaign—responsible for an estimated 13 servicemember deaths—remains even less popular among the American public.

Vietnam War Comparison Shows Similar Disapproval

In January 1973, the same year U.S. troops withdrew from Vietnam, a Gallup poll found that 60% of Americans believed it had been a mistake to send troops to Vietnam in the first place.

Trump has frequently claimed that he would have swiftly ended the Vietnam War, citing his supposed success in Iran. However, the poll reveals a stark contrast: only 19% of Americans believe the U.S. military campaign in Iran has been successful.

Conflicting Claims of Victory

Both the U.S. and Iran have declared victory in the conflict, though the poll suggests that the American public remains unconvinced. The 19% approval rating raises questions about how this conclusion was reached, particularly given the lack of clear evidence supporting a decisive outcome.