Poll shows 71% of Americans want new Congress to end Iran war

A significant majority of American adults expressed a desire for the newly elected Democratic-led Congress to take swift action on two key issues: ending the ongoing war with Iran and repealing tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Monday, 71 percent of respondents want Congress to pass legislation that formally ends the conflict. This sentiment is not limited to one party, as the poll found that 93 percent of Democrats and 51 percent of Republicans support this move.

The push for legislative action follows last week’s midterm elections, where Democrats secured their largest majorities in both the Senate and the House of Representatives since at least 2008. This electoral outcome was widely interpreted as a sharp rebuke of President Donald Trump and his Republican colleagues, driven largely by voter dissatisfaction with high living costs and the deeply unpopular war. The new Congress is scheduled to be sworn in on January 3, at which point Democrats will assume power.

In addition to the conflict in Iran, a substantial 62 percent of poll respondents said they would support efforts to repeal the import tariffs established by the current administration. The war has contributed to a sharp rise in fuel prices, which has further exacerbated inflation already fueled by new taxes on hundreds of imported goods. President Trump has defended the military engagement as necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. He has also argued that the tariffs serve to boost American industry by shielding it from cheap foreign competition.

Democratic Party leaders have pledged to prioritize cost-of-living concerns and have stated their intention to force an end to the US involvement in the Iran war. Many within the party have also committed to dismantling the existing tariff structure. The poll indicates a strong public desire for bipartisanship, with large majorities in both political parties stating that it is important for President Trump to work with Democrats and for Democratic leaders to attempt to collaborate with the president.

When asked about priorities for the first 100 days of the new Congress, nine in 10 respondents identified cost-of-living issues as the primary focus. Fewer respondents prioritized other topics such as artificial intelligence regulation, immigration reform, and climate change. However, opinions remain divided on the potential for impeachment proceedings. About 42 percent of respondents said it would be bad for the country if the new Congress tried to impeach Trump, while 33 percent believed it would be good. The remaining participants were unsure or did not answer.

Congressional Democrats are currently divided on how to reduce healthcare costs and how aggressively to target the president and his cabinet. A House impeachment vote for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected this week following a move initiated by a Republican lawmaker. Despite these internal debates, President Trump indicated after the elections that he would probably get along with the new Democratic leadership. However, he also appointed Stephen Miller, a polarizing aide who has described the Democratic Party as a domestic extremist group, to serve as the new White House chief of staff.

The poll also highlighted the current standing of both major parties. President Trump’s approval rating sits near the lowest point of his political career at 32 percent. Democrats also face challenges in public perception, with 45 percent of Americans holding a favorable view of the party and 51 percent holding an unfavorable one. Republicans fared even worse in this metric, with 35 percent receiving a favorable rating and 60 percent an unfavorable one. On the issue of regulating artificial intelligence, 28 percent of respondents believed the Democrats had the better approach, compared to 20 percent who chose the Republicans.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted online with a nationwide sample of 1,705 US adults. The study carries a margin of error of approximately two percentage points.