Trump Moves to Reignite Iran War as Polls Show Rising Domestic Crisis

The four-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran is under increasing strain following reports that US warships reportedly sank six Iranian military speedboats and shot down several drones in the Strait of Hormuz. The incident marks a sharp escalation after US President Donald Trump’s announcement on Sunday that the US military will begin escorting commercial vessels through the strait, in an operation dubbed “Project Freedom”.

Speaking to Fox News Trump threatened that if US ships in the region are targeted, the “Iranians will be blown off the face of the earth,” further inflaming tensions.

Iran has warned that it will retaliate if Washington violates its blockade of the strategic waterway. 

Meanwhile, reports also indicated that an oil port in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and a residential building in Oman were targeted in separate attacks on May 4. The UAE accused Iran of launching the attack, however, neither Tehran or Washington has claimed responsibility.

Despite the accelerating drive toward renewed military conflict, the war on Iran remains deeply unpopular in the United States. Even more unpopular than the Iraq and Vietnam wars. 

Political crisis deepens in the US

Recent polling underscores the extent of domestic opposition. An Ipsos survey found that 61% of respondents believe attacking Iran was a mistake. Over 53% expect negative financial consequences.

Those consequences are already being felt. Gasoline prices have surged, with the national average rising to USD 4.11 per gallon compared to USD 2.80 before the war. One CNBC poll found that nearly 80% of people in the US have taken steps to try to manage higher fuel and energy costs.

Opposition to the war is increasingly intersecting with broader economic discontent. A striking 87% of US residents believe the country is in a full blown cost-of-living crisis. A majority of people (55%) say their financial situation is worsening. More than Gallup recorded during periods of acute economic strain, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the global financial crisis of 2008. 

The US seems to be facing a convergence of crisis. Escalating conflict with Iran, rising living costs, deeply unpopular immigration enforcement operations by federal agencies like ICE, the absence of prosecutions tied to the Epstein case, and a growing protest movement against the Trump administration. These and various other factors have intensified political instability. Calls for a general strike have begun to surface, with mass shutdowns in Minnesota spreading to other parts of the country.

Against this backdrop, Trump’s approval ratings continue to decline. Current polling shows 56% of respondents disapprove of the president, a five-point increase since March.

Courtesy: Peoples Dispatch