Fox News poll shows 50/50 split on US military action against Iran

A new national survey by Fox News shows that while a majority of Americans view Iran as a significant national security threat, public opinion remains evenly divided over the current US military action against the country.

The poll found that 61% of respondents believe Iran poses “a real national security threat” to the United States, consistent with most Fox News surveys since 2006. The highest concern was recorded last June at 73%, just before the US military mission against Iranian nuclear facilities, known as Operation Midnight Hammer.

Despite widespread concern about Iran, only half of Americans (50%) approve of the current US strikes, with an equal 50% disapproving. Similarly, 51% say President Donald Trump’s handling of Iran has made the country less safe, up from 43% last July, while 29% believe he has made the US safer. By contrast, a 2023 survey about former President Joe Biden found that 50% felt his handling of Iran had reduced US safety, while only 12% felt safer.

The survey highlights significant partisan divides. Over 80% of Republicans approve of the current use of force against Iran, though only 60% believe Trump’s actions have made the US safer. Nearly 80% of Democrats disapprove of the strikes and say the country is less safe due to Trump’s handling of the situation. Among independents, a majority also believe the strikes are making the US less safe and disapprove of the military action.

Veterans show a slightly different pattern: 59% approve of the strikes, while 39% disapprove. When asked about Trump’s impact on national safety, 44% of veterans said his actions have made the U.S. less safe, while 37% said safer, reflecting a narrower divide than the general population.

The survey was conducted from Saturday through Monday, after the US and Israel began launching strikes under a joint mission named “Operation Epic Fury.”

Trump’s foreign policy approval rating is underwater by 20 points, with 40% approving and 60% disapproving, including 21% of Republicans who disapprove. His overall job performance stands at 43% approve versus 57% disapprove, virtually unchanged from December and January readings.

Regarding the United States’ international standing, 56% of voters believe the country is less respected globally than four years ago, a slight improvement from 61% under Biden in 2024. Thirty percent say the US is more respected, up from 23% under Biden and 29% during Trump’s first term.

Two-thirds of voters express concern that Trump’s use of executive orders and actions without Congressional approval may permanently alter the US system of checks and balances, mirroring attitudes toward former President Obama during his tenure.

Reflecting on last June’s airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, voters remain closely divided: 30% say the strikes were mostly successful, 31% say mostly a failure, and 37% feel it is too soon to judge—results largely unchanged from July 2025, immediately after the strikes.

By Vafa Guliyeva