Kenneth Glad
Only one in five voters sees the conflict as worth its cost. That figure is becoming harder for Washington to ignore.
The war with Iran is becoming a domestic liability for Donald Trump, even as he rejects pressure to settle quickly.
According to TV 2, Trump told a Cabinet meeting that he was unconcerned about the political impact before the November 3, 2026, midterm elections.
“I don’t care about the midterms,” he said.
The remark came after weeks of White House signals that an agreement with Tehran could be close. No deal has followed the US attack on Iran on February 28.
The public wants limits
Voter patience appears thin. A Fox News poll found 61 percent of registered voters favored a limited timeframe for the military operation, while 39 percent supported continuing until US goals are met.
Another polling for the New York Times showed that 52 percent of registered voters wanted the war ended even without an agreement on Iran’s nuclear program.
The same reporting said only 21 percent of voters believed the war had been worth the cost.
Midterm elections often become a referendum on the sitting president, especially when voters are anxious about prices or national direction. That pattern has hurt presidents from both parties in modern US politics.
Inflation becomes dangerous
The economy adds to the pressure. TV 2 writes that US inflation stood at 3.8 percent in April, higher than when Trump returned to office and the highest level since May 2023.
Jørn Brøndal of the University of Southern Denmark told the Danish broadcaster that rising prices are especially damaging because Trump had made inflation a central attack line against Joe Biden, and because many voters judge politicians through household finances.
Trump’s broader standing has weakened too. TV 2 Denmark reported that his average approval rating has fallen to 39.6 percent.
The danger now extends to Republican candidates who must defend seats in states where Trump’s net approval is negative.
Brøndal said that those candidates need support beyond the party base, but remain under pressure to follow Trump even when the Iran war may hurt them electorally.
For Republican campaigns, the problem is no longer only the war itself. It is the way the conflict is merging with inflation, weak approval ratings and a midterm map where small shifts can decide control of Congress.
Sources: TV 2, Fox News, New York Times
