The majority of Americans think President Donald Trump will order U.S. soldiers to Iran in a large-scale ground war, and less than 10 percent support that possibility, a new poll from Reuters/Ipsos shows on Thursday.
Newsweek reached out to the White House via email for comment.
Why It Matters
Any move to deploy U.S. ground forces—whether to secure maritime traffic at the world’s most critical oil chokepoint or control Iranian energy or nuclear-related sites—would escalate the scope and risks of a war already disrupting global energy supplies and raising domestic political stakes for Trump.
Spikes in oil and gas prices along with threats to energy infrastructure across the region underscore how securing the Strait of Hormuz and nearby facilities has become central to both the war’s trajectory and its potential global economic fallout.
What To Know
According to the poll, 65 percent believe Trump will order troops to Iran in a large-scale ground war and only 7 percent back the idea of such an effort. The poll shows that 34 percent support sending U.S. ground troops into Iran but only special forces, and 55 percent said they do not support the idea of sending any troops.
The poll surveyed 1,545 U.S. adults across the country from March 17 to March 19 and has a margin of error of about 3 percent.
The poll shows that 77 percent of Republicans approve of U.S. strikes on Iran versus 28 percent of independents and 6 percent of Democrats. The survey also finds that 37 percent of Americans approve of the war overall and 59 percent disapprove.
Trump’s White House is considering deploying thousands of U.S. troops amid the ongoing war in Iran, Reuters reported on Wednesday, adding that sources do not believe ground forces in Iran would be imminent.
According to Reuters, citing three people and a U.S. official familiar with the matter, the possibilities include a mission to secure “safe passage for oil tankers” in the Strait of Hormuz and an invasion of Iran’s Kharg Island, home to a key hub for oil exportation.
Securing the strait could mean troops on the shoreline in Iran, four sources, including two U.S. officials, told Reuters. One official also told the news outlet that sending ground troops to Kharg Island would pose a risk, as Iran could reach the island with drones and missiles.
Another reported possibility for U.S. troops is to seize Iran’s stock of highly enriched uranium, per the Reuters report, citing one person familiar with the issue.
However, when asked about the possibility of sending American troops to the region, Trump said on Thursday in part, “No, I’m not putting troops anywhere. If I were, I certainly wouldn’t tell you. But I’m not putting troops.”
“Iran is a serious threat to the world, to the Middle East, and to the world,” Trump added.
The U.S. military said it has conducted thousands of strikes since February 28 and damaged or destroyed numerous Iranian vessels. The war has resulted in the death of 13 American soldiers and about 200 injuries, per Reuters on Wednesday.
What People Are Saying
Trump, on Truth Social Wednesday: “I wonder what would happen if we ‘finished off’ what’s left of the Iranian Terror State, and let the Countries that use it, we don’t, be responsible for the so called ‘Strait?’ That would get some of our non-responsive ‘Allies’ in gear, and fast!!! President DJT”
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, on X Tuesday: “Donald Trump was overwhelmingly elected by the American people to be our President and Commander in Chief. As our Commander in Chief, he is responsible for determining what is and is not an imminent threat, and whether or not to take action he deems necessary to protect the safety and security of our troops, the American people and our country.
“The Office of the Director of National Intelligence is responsible for helping coordinate and integrate all intelligence to provide the President and Commander in Chief with the best information available to inform his decisions. After carefully reviewing all the information before him, President Trump concluded that the terrorist Islamist regime in Iran posed an imminent threat and he took action based on that conclusion.”
Congressman Ted Lieu, California Democrat, on X Wednesday: “I am a hard NO on any additional funding to the Department of Defense until trump stops violating the Constitution and submits an authorization for the use of military force on Iran for Congress and the American people to consider.”
What Happens Next
It is immediately unclear what Trump’s next steps are in the region and if U.S. troops would be deployed to Iran in a large-scale fashion.
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