As the United States approaches midterm elections less than four months away on November 4, 2026, President Donald Trump faces mounting challenges over the unpopular and costly war in Iran. Despite growing public disapproval and economic strain, Trump has dismissed concerns about the conflict's impact on his political standing.

A Washington Post-Ipsos poll released last week found that only 28% of Americans believe the Iran war is worth fighting, while 68% oppose it. Financially, just 17% of Americans say they are better off than when Trump took office, amid surging prices linked to the war.

Among Trump’s own supporters, about 37% of self-identified Maga voters say the U.S. should continue the war only if it does not increase costs, according to a Politico poll released on July 22.

During a contentious Senate hearing on July 22, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reported that the Iran war has cost $37.5 billion so far and requested Congress approve an $88 billion supplemental funding package.

When asked if Iran’s threats to the Strait of Hormuz were intended to influence the midterm elections, Trump responded dismissively, saying, “The election – I can’t think about that having to do with this.” His response to the war’s mounting death toll and costs was similarly indifferent: “It won’t have any impact on me.”

Republicans in the House and Senate, already hindered by Trump’s low approval ratings and the war’s unpopularity, are increasingly worried about their electoral prospects.

Sources