Americans Reject Trump’s Iran War at Vietnam-Era Levels Despite Pentagon Spin

During a recent Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made a strikingly false claim: that the war with Iran enjoys broad support among the American people. When challenged by Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Hegseth insisted, “I believe we do have the support of the American people,” and praised their ability to “see through spin.”

But the facts tell a very different story. According to a recent Washington Post national survey, public disapproval of the Iran conflict has surged to levels comparable to the most unpopular phases of the Vietnam War. Unlike typical military engagements where initial support gradually erodes, this war was unpopular from the start and has only become less supported over the past two months.

This trend is no accident. The Trump administration’s reckless escalation of conflict with Iran—through military provocations, diplomatic sabotage, and crippling sanctions—has been widely criticized as a distraction from mounting domestic scandals and a cynical effort to consolidate authoritarian power. The public’s growing rejection of the war reflects deep skepticism about the motives and competence of this administration.

Hegseth’s attempt to gaslight the Senate and the public by claiming widespread support is a textbook example of the administration’s pattern: deny reality, attack critics, and push false narratives to justify dangerous policies. But Americans are not buying it. The polling data makes clear that this manufactured war is a political and moral failure, and the administration’s desperation to spin it only underscores its recklessness.

We will keep tracking the fallout from this disastrous conflict and hold those responsible accountable. The American people deserve honest leadership, not propaganda that fuels endless war and undermines democracy.