Nournews: The latest joint survey by The Economist and YouGov paints a clear picture of the deep political divide in the United States over the Iran-Israel war and the role of President Donald Trump in the conflict. Conducted between June 19 and June 22, 2026, the survey asked respondents whether Trump had supported Israel too much, about the right amount, or not enough during the war.
The findings show that Americans' assessments of Trump's handling of the conflict are driven more by partisan identity than by any other factor. Among Republicans, a majority believe that the president either provided the right level of support for Israel or should have gone even further. Only a small minority think his support has been excessive.
An even stronger pattern emerges among supporters of the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement. Most MAGA supporters view Trump's approach as appropriate, while a significant share believe the United States should increase its support for Israel. Very few in this group consider the administration's support excessive.
Among non-MAGA Republicans, support for Trump's policy remains the dominant view, but opinions are somewhat more diverse than within the MAGA base. A larger proportion of respondents selected "not sure" or adopted more moderate positions, suggesting greater variation in attitudes among traditional Republicans.
The picture changes markedly among independent voters. This group expresses the highest level of uncertainty about the administration's policy. A substantial share either have no clear opinion or believe that Trump has supported Israel too strongly. By contrast, only a small minority think the United States should increase its backing for Israel.
The sharpest divide appears among Democrats. According to the survey, a clear majority believe that Trump has gone too far in supporting Israel. Only a small percentage consider his approach appropriate, and very few favor expanding U.S. support. These findings underscore the continuing deep partisan divide over U.S. policy in the Middle East.
Another significant takeaway from the report is its observation of a broader long-term trend in American public opinion. According to the survey's accompanying analysis, public support for Israel has experienced its largest sustained decline since the polling began. This suggests that developments in the region—including the Gaza war, tensions with Iran, and growing political polarization within the United States—have had a substantial impact on Americans' views of U.S. foreign policy.
Politically, the findings also carry important implications for the future of American policymaking. Republicans continue to favor a strongly pro-Israel approach, while Democrats and a large segment of independent voters have become increasingly critical of continued extensive U.S. military and political support for Tel Aviv. This growing divide could play a decisive role in shaping future U.S. policy toward the Middle East, as well as upcoming electoral contests.
Overall, the joint Economist/YouGov poll suggests that although a significant portion of the American public still supports close cooperation with Israel, the longstanding bipartisan consensus in Washington is gradually eroding, with partisan divisions exerting an unprecedented influence on Americans' perceptions of the Iran-Israel war.