America, collaborating with Israel, struck Iran and eliminated Supreme Leader Khamenei along with many senior government officials. This attack had reportedly been planned and a date set weeks in advance, during Iranian negotiations with the United States over uranium enrichment. This attack is one that Americans are clearly worried about, and many said opposed the strike in polls conducted in recent months and weeks.
According to a recent YouGov poll, just 27% of U.S. adult citizens support an attack on Iran. The support among Republicans was considerably low, compared to other issues that Trump supports, at 58% approval. Among Democrats, there is an unsurprising 9% approval.
Independents also opposed the attack, with just 15% approving. Approval for overthrowing Khamenei was slightly higher among all parties, although only with an increase in the low single digits. This strike, and the assassination of Khamenei, is clearly unpopular. Americans have seen how attempts at regime change have played out, in Iraq, Vietnam, Libya, Syria, and Iran in 1953, which have all led the country to this moment.
There is also worry over a prolonged war in the Middle East. The Trump Administration has left open the possibility for a boots on the ground operation, and has offered no indication that there is a desire to end the war quickly. The administration has stated that they expect the operation to take 4-5 weeks, but it's highly unlikely that regime change will occur in this time.
However, there has been a history of military action increasing after the action has taken place. For example, before the attack on Venezuela and the kidnapping of Maduro, 70% of the country opposed a military operation in
Venezuela. Afterwards, that number decreased to just 34%.
If the war with Iran is short-lived and results in very few American casualties, with either regime change or more moderate IRGC members in power, Trump could see an approval boost. However, this war is not popular enough with Democrats, Independents, or Republicans to result in anything but approval collapse if it fails. It threatens to return the U.S. to the forever war in the Middle East, and risk American lives.
The attack on Iran is not popular. It is destabilizing and incredibly risky, especially considering the already unstable region it has taken place in. Americans will only view the attack as successful if it is fast, and accomplishes the majority of its goals.