Nournews: The newspaper USA Today reported that polls show most Americans are dissatisfied with the war with Iran. While older Republicans have largely supported Trump, younger Republicans have opposed it.

A poll released last month by the Pew Research Center showed that fewer than half of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents aged 18 to 29 approve of Trump’s handling of Iran.

Overall, according to the same survey, 69 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning voters support Trump’s handling of Iran, and this support increases with age. Among those aged 65 and older, 84 percent approve of Trump’s performance; among those aged 50 to 64, the figure is 79 percent; and among those aged 30 to 49, it stands at 60 percent.

Among all Americans, only 37 percent support Trump’s approach toward Iran.

As Trump faces serious domestic doubts about the war, he has attempted to bring the conflict to an end. On April 7, he announced a ceasefire and initiated negotiations in Pakistan aimed at reaching a lasting agreement. However, the ceasefire remains fragile, and the possibility of renewed fighting still exists—an outcome that could deepen divisions among Republicans ahead of the November midterm elections.

During his successful 2024 campaign, Trump made gains among young voters, securing 39 percent of voters under age 30, compared with 35 percent in 2020.

However, some of Trump’s younger supporters have now become disillusioned due to his decision to start the war, which they believe contradicts his campaign promises. On election night in 2024, Trump had stated:
“I will not start wars; I will end wars.”

During his campaign, Trump was a strong critic of previous U.S. wars in the Middle East, and recently he has been accused of betrayal by some supporters who believed in his “anti-intervention” and “America First” slogans.

Prominent supporters such as Joe Rogan, a well-known podcaster with a large following among young men, have criticized the war with Iran.

Rogan, who supported Trump in 2024, said:
“Given what he talked about during his campaign, this seems completely crazy. That’s why many people feel betrayed.”

One young Republican said that Trump’s campaign stance on Middle East wars had been “one of the main reasons” he voted for him.

He added:
“I thought we should stay out of conflicts in that region, and I believed that he would do the same—but that didn’t happen. So my view of him has definitely weakened.”

Some younger Republicans are concerned about the cost of living and would prefer Trump to focus on economic issues rather than Iran. One example cited was rising housing costs.

This generational divide within the Republican Party is also reflected across society as a whole. According to a poll conducted by CNN and SSRS, only 19 percent of individuals aged 18 to 34 approve of Trump’s handling of Iran, compared with 41 percent among those aged 45 and older. Another poll by The Economist and YouGov showed that only 13 percent of individuals aged 18 to 29 support the war.

Jeff Friedman, a professor at Dartmouth College, said that younger voters grew up in the shadow of the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan—wars that gradually led to public dissatisfaction. This experience has had a profound impact on public attitudes toward the use of military force.

By contrast, older voters experienced the U.S. victory in the Cold War and the Gulf War. Friedman added that older Republicans grew up during a period when the party was more strongly committed to maintaining a robust military presence abroad.

Any decline in Republican support for Trump could increase challenges for the party ahead of the midterm elections. Democrats achieved several electoral victories in 2025 and 2026, strengthening the likelihood of a wave in their favor.

The U.S. and Israeli war against Iran triggered a global energy shock, increasing oil prices and fuel costs for consumers worldwide. The war effectively disrupted oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery responsible for roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil exports.

Following the 40-day Ramadan war and joint U.S.–Israeli attacks against Iran that began on February 28, 2026, the two sides eventually agreed to a two-week ceasefire early Wednesday morning Tehran time (April 7, 2026, U.S. Eastern Time), mediated by Pakistan, in order to conduct negotiations aimed at ending the war and achieving lasting peace.