Observer Report
Washington
Majority of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of Iran, feel less safe after strike, originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
In a week dominated by increased tension with Iran and speculation over when impeachment articles would be delivered to the U.S. Senate, a majority of Americans said they disapprove of President Trump’s handling of the situation with Iran and feel less safe, according to a new ABC News/Ipsos poll.
But when it comes to a key conflict at home, impeachment, attitudes are more mixed, with Americans split in their assessment of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s motivations for delaying the transmittal of the articles of impeachment.
The poll, conducted by Ipsos in partnership with ABC News, using Ipsos’ Knowledge Panel, asked Americans about their attitudes on two unfolding challenges for the Trump presidency — escalating tensions with Iran and the impending impeachment trial in the Senate.
Overall attitudes about Trump and the consequences of his actions against Iran largely were driven by Independents, a critical target for both parties in electoral politics. The poll showed a majority of Independents, 57%, and all U.S. adults, 56%, disapproving of Trump’s handling of the situation with Iran, with 43% of both Independents and U.S. adults approving.
Respondents also were asked about the fallout of the strike against Qassem Soleimani, the second-most-important official in Iran’s government behind Ayatollah Khamenei, which marked a major escalation in months of tension between the U.S. and Iran, which launched retaliatory missile strikes on American bases in Iraq.
In the aftermath of the U.S. strike, only 28% of Independents, and 25% of Americans, said they felt more safe, while just over half, 51% of Independents and 52% of U.S. adults, said they felt less safe.
