Amid rising tensions between the United States and Iran, a large majority of Americans express concern about the threat posed by Iran’s nuclear program. Eighty percent of adults report at least some concern that Iran’s nuclear ambitions pose a direct threat to the United States. Nearly half (48%) say they are very or extremely concerned, according to a new AP-NORC survey.
Public perception of Iran remains largely negative. Sixty-one percent of Americans describe Iran as an enemy of the United States, while very few consider it a friendly or close ally. In contrast, 54% of respondents characterize Israel as a close US ally, highlighting a clear difference in how Americans view key players in the Middle East.
Low confidence in Donald Trump’s foreign policy judgment
Despite widespread concern about Iran, most Americans express skepticism about President Donald Trump’s decision-making on major foreign policy matters.
A majority (56%) said they had little or no confidence in Trump’s ability to make good decisions about international military action. Confidence is even lower when it comes to the potential use of nuclear weapons, with 59% expressing little or no confidence in his judgment. Similarly, 56% report low confidence in his handling of US allies and 55% express skepticism about his management of relations with adversaries.
These findings suggest that while Americans generally perceive international threats as serious, many are not convinced that the president would respond appropriately in high-stakes situations involving military force.
Sharp partisan units
Confidence in the president’s handling of international issues is deeply divided along party lines. Democrats and independents are significantly more likely than Republicans to express disbelief in Trump’s judgment.
Ninety-two percent of Democrats and 65% of independents say they have little or no confidence in his ability to make appropriate decisions about the use of nuclear weapons. By contrast, only 20% of Republicans share this view.
