Poll: Most say Iran war not going well, but don't want regime left in power
Most Republicans, especially MAGA, continue to support the US action and express a lot of confidence in Trump personally.
Updated on: March 22, 2026 / 9:23 PM EDT / CBS News
When gauging a war , Americans consider at least two important things: what the goals are overseas and its impact back home.
Right now, Americans want a lot of things to happen in Iran: Most feel it's important to stop its nuclear program , ensure the Iranian people are free, and, now that the conflict is underway, that it would be unacceptable to leave the Iranian regime in power at the end of it.
But it's also important to end the conflict as fast as possible, they say, with growing economic pressure back home.
Rising gas prices are fueling some pessimism about the U.S. economy more broadly, with concerns about negative impacts on it in at least the near-term, if not the long term.
That uncertainty is underpinned by a rising number of people who feel the Trump administration hasn't explained things. Most call it a war of choice, not of necessity.