Public approval for President Trump's handling of the war with Iran has fallen to 32 percent, according to a Daily Mail/JL Partners poll. The survey of over 1,000 registered voters, conducted between July 17 and 20, also found that 49 percent of Americans believe Trump was wrong to initiate military action that has resulted in the deaths of 17 U.S. troops and left over 100 injured.
Overall approval for President Trump's job performance stands at 44 percent, a slight decrease from 47 percent in mid-June. Americans also remain divided on the initial decision to engage militarily, with 36 percent supporting the action and 41 percent opposing it. Even among Trump voters, support has softened, with 60 percent now believing the intervention was the right decision, down four points from June, while 21 percent consider it the wrong move.
Expectations for the conflict's duration are also dim. Fifty-eight percent of voters believe it will take more than a year to reach a resolution or are unsure of the timeline. Only 5 percent anticipate an agreement within a month, and 18 percent expect one within three months.
When it comes to accountability for the conflict's escalation, voters are most likely to blame President Trump, with 32 percent pointing to him, compared to 19 percent who blame the Iranian government. Support for further military escalation is limited, with only 38 percent backing U.S. strikes on Iranian infrastructure intended to pressure Tehran into negotiations, while 34 percent oppose such actions.
The poll was released as the U.S. death toll in the conflict reached 17. On July 17, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the deaths of two American service members in Jordan during defensive operations against Iranian missile and drone attacks. Another service member was reported missing, and four were medically evacuated. The Pentagon stated that approximately 96 percent of the nearly 100 injured service members have returned to active duty, disputing suggestions of a cover-up.
President Trump has warned Iran of severe retaliation for any further U.S. casualties, stating on Truth Social, "Every time Iran kills an American soldier, they will pay for that killing many times over!" He also acknowledged the fallen troops as "great patriots."
CENTCOM confirmed that U.S. forces have expanded air operations against Iranian military capabilities, including missile and drone infrastructure, in response to ongoing Iranian attacks across the region. Diplomatic efforts are reportedly underway, with mediators including Pakistan and Qatar proposing a ten-day ceasefire to facilitate negotiations, though no agreement has been announced.
Reports from Iran describe the situation as a "full-scale war," with officials warning of mounting damage to infrastructure and deteriorating civilian conditions, including power and water outages and shortages of essential goods. The U.S. maintains that its operations are focused on targeting Iranian military capabilities and protecting U.S. forces and allies, not on harming civilians.