As the war with Iran enters its second month and President Donald Trump considers next steps, a new Economist-YouGov poll shows Americans are overwhelmingly opposed to sending U.S. ground troops into the conflict.
The survey found just 14% of Americans are in favor of deploying ground forces to Iran, while 62% oppose the idea and 24% are unsure.
The opposition spans party lines. Among Republicans, more oppose sending troops than support it, 37% to 30%.
Even within Trump's base, support is limited: 41% of self-identified MAGA supporters favor a ground operation, while 27% oppose it. Among other Republicans, opposition jumps to 60%.
The numbers highlight the political sensitivity surrounding any potential escalation, particularly as Americans face rising gas prices near $4 a gallon and U.S. allies remain largely on the sidelines.
Other surveys reveal the same trend, but the Economist-YouGov poll underscores how little appetite there is for a major troop deployment.
A Reuters-Ipsos poll released last week found just 7% backed sending a "large number of troops for a large-scale ground operation," while 34% supported "a small number of special forces for targeted operations." Still, a 55% majority said, "I do not support the U.S. using any ground troops in Iran."
At the same time, the Pentagon is reportedly preparing contingency plans should Trump decide to intensify operations.
According to multiple reports, options under discussion include the possible seizure of Kharg Island, a key Iranian oil export hub, and targeted raids near the Strait of Hormuz to eliminate threats to shipping.
Trump has publicly dismissed the idea of deploying troops.
Speaking March 19 in the Oval Office, he told reporters, "I'm not putting troops anywhere. If I were, I certainly wouldn't tell you. But I'm not putting troops."
While Americans remain wary of a broader ground war, the polling suggests voters may still support limited, targeted actions against Iran. The divide indicates that while there is backing for confronting Tehran, there is far less willingness to commit to a prolonged or large-scale military engagement.
The poll was conducted March 27-30 and surveyed 1,679 adult U.S. citizens. The margin of error was plus or minus 3.2 percentage points.
Nicole Weatherholtz ✉
Nicole Weatherholtz, a Newsmax general assignment reporter covers news, politics, and culture. She is a National Newspaper Association award-winning journalist.
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