Trump's USA

American public opinion
Analysis: Trump first president in modern times to go to war without popular support

Several surveys show that the American people do not support the war in Iran. This makes Donald Trump the first president in modern times to go to war without popular support, writes the New York Times' Peter Baker in an analysis.

"Given that wars tend to become less popular over time, the initial negative reaction suggests that the fighting risks creating political problems for Donald Trump and his Republican party colleagues the longer they last," Baker notes.

He also points out that Trump, unlike previous presidents, has not made any great effort to get the people on board by explaining in advance why the war is necessary.

CNBC's Matt Peterson points out that the war coincides with figures showing rising unemployment and that the fighting has driven up gas prices significantly.

He writes that it is reasonable to believe that Americans will ask themselves why the United States should continue to pay economically and militarily in Iran, when Trump has claimed that previous bombings have completely destroyed Iran's nuclear program and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is already dead.

American public opinion
Three polls: Majority of Americans oppose war

A majority of Americans oppose the country attacking Iran militarily. This is shown by three different opinion polls, all of which were conducted in recent days, reports the New York Times. The polls were conducted by CNN, Reuters/Ipsos and the Washington Post and all show that around 60 percent oppose the war.

All surveys show that Republican voters are generally positive, while they believe that the United States should generally withdraw from conflicts abroad. Democratic voters are largely completely negative.

The New York Times points out that support for military intervention is usually highest initially and then decreases. The newspaper also writes that it is probably still too early to assume the public's view of the war has settled.