US public concerned about Iran nuclear program, expresses low trust in Trump's foreign policy leadership amid tensions and diplomatic uncertainty
TOI GLOBAL DESK | Feb 26, 2026, 18:38 IST
Trump says US-Iran talks likely next week, claims "destroyed" Iran's nuclear program
New polls show a growing number of Americans are really worried about Iran getting nuclear weapons, seeing it as a big threat to national security. However, the public isn't so sure President Trump can handle a military showdown or effectively deal with other countries that are causing trouble.
As the US and Iran prepare for another round of nuclear talks in Geneva, a new AP-NORC poll reveals that a significant portion of American adults view Iran's nuclear program as a threat, while simultaneously expressing low trust in President Donald Trump's judgment regarding the use of military force abroad. The survey, conducted from February 19-23, highlights ongoing concerns about Iran's nuclear ambitions amidst rising military tensions in the Middle East.
Approximately half of US adults are either "extremely" or "very" concerned that Iran's nuclear program poses a direct threat to the United States. Another 3 in 10 Americans report being "moderately" concerned. Only about 2 in 10 express being "not very" concerned or "not concerned at all."
The United States is pursuing an agreement to limit Iran's nuclear program and prevent it from developing nuclear weapons. Iran, however, maintains it is not pursuing weapons and has resisted demands to halt uranium enrichment or surrender its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
President Trump, who withdrew the US from a previous nuclear agreement with Iran during his first term, has frequently threatened military action to compel Iran to constrain its atomic program. He claimed to have "obliterated" Iran's nuclear sites following a 12-day war in June, during which the US conducted bombings. Iran has stated it would retaliate with its own attacks. Trump has also issued threats against Iran in response to the killing of protesters.
Both nations have indicated readiness for conflict if negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program fail. The US has deployed its largest military force to the Middle East in decades as tensions with Iran have escalated.
A majority of Americans, 61%, consider Iran an "enemy" of the US, a slight increase from a Pearson Institute/AP-NORC poll in September 2023. Despite this perception, confidence in the president's judgment concerning relationships with adversaries and the deployment of military force abroad is low. The new poll indicates that only about 3 in 10 Americans have "a great deal" or "quite a bit" of trust in Trump's judgment in these areas.
Even some Republicans, particularly younger ones, have expressed reservations about Trump's decision-making on these critical issues. The Trump administration has engaged in two rounds of nuclear talks with Iran this year, facilitated by Omani mediation, with a third round scheduled to commence on Thursday. Previous talks last year between the US and Iran regarding Iran's nuclear program collapsed after Israel initiated the 12-day war in June.
“We are in negotiations with them,” Trump stated during his State of the Union address on Tuesday night, which occurred after the poll was conducted. “They want to make a deal, but we haven't heard those secret words: We will never have a nuclear weapon.”
Americans exhibit significant reservations about Trump's judgment on foreign conflicts, according to the AP-NORC poll. Only approximately 3 in 10 US adults place "a great deal" or "quite a bit" of trust in Trump's judgment concerning the use of military force, relationships with US adversaries, or the use of nuclear weapons. More than half of respondents trust him "only a little" or "not at all."
On each of these measures, Republicans are more inclined than Democrats and Independents to believe the president will make sound decisions. Around 6 in 10 Republicans express a high level of trust in Trump, whereas approximately 9 in 10 Democrats report a low level of trust.
However, the confidence of some Republicans is more qualified. Younger Republicans, defined as those under 45, are less likely than older Republicans to state they trust Trump "a great deal" or "quite a bit" regarding his use of military force. About half of younger Republicans hold this view, compared to roughly two-thirds of older Republicans.
The finding that 48% of US adults are "extremely" or "very" concerned that Iran's nuclear program poses a direct threat to their country aligns with an AP-NORC poll conducted in July 2025. This suggests that recent escalations between the two nations have not altered Americans' perspectives on this issue.
Prior to the June war, Iran had been enriching uranium to up to 60% purity, a level considered a short, technical step away from weapons-grade material. The UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), had noted that Iran was the only country enriching uranium to that level without possessing nuclear weapons. Iran has been refusing requests from the IAEA to inspect the sites that were bombed during the June war, raising concerns among nonproliferation experts.
Worries about Iran's nuclear program transcend party lines in the US, although Republicans currently express greater concern. A majority of Republicans, 56%, report being "extremely" or "very" concerned about Iran's nuclear program, in contrast to 44% of Democrats.
Approximately half of US adults are either "extremely" or "very" concerned that Iran's nuclear program poses a direct threat to the United States. Another 3 in 10 Americans report being "moderately" concerned. Only about 2 in 10 express being "not very" concerned or "not concerned at all."
The United States is pursuing an agreement to limit Iran's nuclear program and prevent it from developing nuclear weapons. Iran, however, maintains it is not pursuing weapons and has resisted demands to halt uranium enrichment or surrender its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
President Trump, who withdrew the US from a previous nuclear agreement with Iran during his first term, has frequently threatened military action to compel Iran to constrain its atomic program. He claimed to have "obliterated" Iran's nuclear sites following a 12-day war in June, during which the US conducted bombings. Iran has stated it would retaliate with its own attacks. Trump has also issued threats against Iran in response to the killing of protesters.
Both nations have indicated readiness for conflict if negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program fail. The US has deployed its largest military force to the Middle East in decades as tensions with Iran have escalated.
A majority of Americans, 61%, consider Iran an "enemy" of the US, a slight increase from a Pearson Institute/AP-NORC poll in September 2023. Despite this perception, confidence in the president's judgment concerning relationships with adversaries and the deployment of military force abroad is low. The new poll indicates that only about 3 in 10 Americans have "a great deal" or "quite a bit" of trust in Trump's judgment in these areas.
Even some Republicans, particularly younger ones, have expressed reservations about Trump's decision-making on these critical issues. The Trump administration has engaged in two rounds of nuclear talks with Iran this year, facilitated by Omani mediation, with a third round scheduled to commence on Thursday. Previous talks last year between the US and Iran regarding Iran's nuclear program collapsed after Israel initiated the 12-day war in June.
“We are in negotiations with them,” Trump stated during his State of the Union address on Tuesday night, which occurred after the poll was conducted. “They want to make a deal, but we haven't heard those secret words: We will never have a nuclear weapon.”
Americans exhibit significant reservations about Trump's judgment on foreign conflicts, according to the AP-NORC poll. Only approximately 3 in 10 US adults place "a great deal" or "quite a bit" of trust in Trump's judgment concerning the use of military force, relationships with US adversaries, or the use of nuclear weapons. More than half of respondents trust him "only a little" or "not at all."
On each of these measures, Republicans are more inclined than Democrats and Independents to believe the president will make sound decisions. Around 6 in 10 Republicans express a high level of trust in Trump, whereas approximately 9 in 10 Democrats report a low level of trust.
However, the confidence of some Republicans is more qualified. Younger Republicans, defined as those under 45, are less likely than older Republicans to state they trust Trump "a great deal" or "quite a bit" regarding his use of military force. About half of younger Republicans hold this view, compared to roughly two-thirds of older Republicans.
The finding that 48% of US adults are "extremely" or "very" concerned that Iran's nuclear program poses a direct threat to their country aligns with an AP-NORC poll conducted in July 2025. This suggests that recent escalations between the two nations have not altered Americans' perspectives on this issue.
Prior to the June war, Iran had been enriching uranium to up to 60% purity, a level considered a short, technical step away from weapons-grade material. The UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), had noted that Iran was the only country enriching uranium to that level without possessing nuclear weapons. Iran has been refusing requests from the IAEA to inspect the sites that were bombed during the June war, raising concerns among nonproliferation experts.
Worries about Iran's nuclear program transcend party lines in the US, although Republicans currently express greater concern. A majority of Republicans, 56%, report being "extremely" or "very" concerned about Iran's nuclear program, in contrast to 44% of Democrats.