71% of Americans want new Congress to end Iran war, 62% back revoking tariffs

What the poll found

A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on 10 November shows that a majority of Americans want the newly elected Congress to pass a law ending the war with Iran. Seventy-one percent of respondents backed such legislation, including 93% of Democrats and 51% of Republicans. A smaller but still substantial 62% said they would support an effort to revoke the tariffs Donald Trump has imposed on many imported goods. The four-day survey ended on Monday, 9 November, and the conflict it refers to began in February. Nine in ten respondents said cost of living should be the top priority for Congress in its first 100 days.

Back law to end Iran war71%

Back revoking Trump tariffs62%

Impeachment bad for country42%

Impeachment good for country33%

Trump approval rating32%

Back law to end Iran war

71 %

Back revoking Trump tariffs

62 %

Impeachment bad for country

42 %

Impeachment good for country

33 %

Trump approval rating

32 %

Data from the article text

War, prices and the midterms

The war pushed fuel prices sharply higher, adding to inflation that had already been driven up by Trump's new duties on hundreds of imported products. Trump defends the fighting as necessary to keep Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, and he argues that the tariffs protect American industry from cheap imports. Democrats won their strongest majorities in the Senate and House since at least 2008 in the midterm elections held in early November, a result N-tv reads as a rebuke of Trump's Republicans over high prices and an unpopular war the United States is waging alongside Israel. Democrats take control of Congress on 3 January. Their leaders have pledged to address the cost of living and to try to force an end to the war, and many party members have pledged to end the tariffs.

Limits of public support

Public appetite for a confrontation with Trump is limited. Forty-two percent of respondents said impeachment proceedings against the president would be bad for the country, against 33% who considered them good. Trump's approval stands at 32%, close to the lowest point of his political career. Democrats are viewed positively by 45% and negatively by 51%, while Republicans draw 35% positive and 60% negative views. Democrats are divided over how hard they should push against the president or members of his cabinet, according to N-tv.

Signals on cooperation

A large majority in both parties said it matters that Trump try to work with Democrats, and that Democratic leaders in the new Congress should work with the president. Trump said after the election that he would probably get along with Democrats. At the same time he promoted adviser Stephen Miller to White House chief of staff. N-tv reports that Miller has described the Democratic Party as a domestic extremist group. Congress passes from Republican to Democratic control on 3 January, when the new majority takes over.