Both parties at odds with own voters over Middle East policy

Republicans and Democrats have both carved out unpopular positions on America’s role in the Middle East

Published

March 5, 2026 6:30AM (EST)

Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to reporters ahead of a briefing by Trump administration officials to members of the Senate on U.S. strikes on Iran, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC on March 3, 2026. (Photo by Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)

President Donald Trump’s joint invasion of Iran with Israel is causing an uproar across the globe, but on Capitol Hill, things are more cohesive than they might seem, with Republicans and some Democrats finding common ground for the president’s new war. This is despite polling showing the vast majority of Americans are opposed to a new war in the Middle East and the yearslong souring view of Israel among the American public. Most public opinion polls indicate that the invasion of Iran is deeply unpopular. Yet neither party is letting public sentiment influence their decision-making.