With matters in Iran settling into a fragile holding pattern, a new poll offers fresh insight into how the American people are processing President Donald Trump’s handling of the crisis—and what it reveals about the public mood here at home.
American Pulse Research and Polling conducted the national survey over three nights, June 23–25, immediately following the U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and the surprise ceasefire that followed. The poll carries a margin of error of ±3.9 percent.
First, let’s look at what Americans told us with their responses to our questions.
The first image to emerge is that they solidly approve of Trump’s handling of the situation. Fifty-six percent approve of his efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
When asked specifically about the airstrikes, majority approval still holds but drops slightly to 54 percent. In our polarized country, those are solid majorities.
Perhaps one of the survey’s most telling results is the boost the combined military-diplomatic approach gave to how Americans perceive Trump. Fifty-one percent said his actions have caused them to view Trump more favorably. On the other hand, less than 34 percent of respondents admitted that Trump’s approach to Iran now make them view him less favorably.
Stepping back for a moment, the numbers tell a clear story: the American people recognized—and rewarded—Trump’s dual-track strategy with Iran. They saw that he wasn’t choosing between force and diplomacy; he was using both. Trump was applying pressure while still leaving the door open for negotiations—a rare and difficult balance that most leaders can’t pull off.
But this wasn’t just luck. It was strategic. It was deliberate. And it worked.
Trump employed diplomacy and decisive military action in tandem to keep Iran off balance while pursuing a more stable outcome. In doing so, Trump threaded the needle.
His challenge was aided by one important factor: the American people understand the stakes. In our American Pulse survey, a full 71 percent of voters—including majorities of Republicans, independents, and Democrats—believe that if Iran acquires a nuclear weapon, it would use it. That’s not a partisan issue. That’s a red line.
The public is cautious about war, but resolute when it comes to preventing a nuclear Iran. And Trump’s strategy met the moment.
The poll also confirmed support for President Trump’s “peace through strength” approach to world affairs. When asked if they believe deterrence is working to preserve peace, 48 percent say the strikes and ceasefire will deter American adversaries from taking hostile action against the United States while 43 percent disagreed.
It’s clear that a majority of Americans believe the world recognizes that Trump means business; they think the policy is working and making America safer.
Trump’s authorizing U.S. airstrikes sent a strong signal to more than Tehran and Tel Aviv. The message was also heard in Beijing, Moscow, Pyongyang, and in the capitals of other nations that don’t have the best interests of the United States at heart.
Actions, they say, speak louder than words.
By giving the green light for U.S. B-2 stealth bombers to fly on missions halfway around the world, carry them out, and return safely, Trump issued a fresh reminder that America’s military remains a global force to be reckoned with—and one that he’s not afraid to use when he feels the situation requires it.
While the survey indicates strong support for President Trump’s actions in this most recent crisis, Americans also expressed anxiety for safety here in the homeland.
When asked about border security and the possibility of terrorism inside the U.S., 61 percent agreed that cartels and sleeper cells likely exploited the Biden administration’s open border policies.
That result is significant because it tells us Americans harbor deep concerns about the consequences of essentially flinging open the nation’s southern border for four years. The tidal wave of immigrants who flooded into the country was so massive, it was impossible to adequately investigate their background before allowing them entry. As a result, nobody can say for certain that bad actors were not hidden among the millions who swept into the country during Biden’s presidency. And Americans remain very concerned about it today.
A poll is only a snapshot of the national mood at any given point in time. This survey shows Americans have a clear image of the danger posed by Iran’s nuclear program, they understood and supported President Trump’s decisive actions to address it, they applauded the ceasefire that has so far limited the conflict to a 12-Day War, and support the Trump administration’s continued practice of “peace through strength” moving ahead.
