Americans Oppose Iran Escalation and Greenland Purchase

With the tactical success of the Iran nuclear facilities bombing and the recent capture of Nicolás Maduro behind it, the U.S. is setting its sights on future targets, including the possibilities of regime change in Cuba and Iran and the acquisition of Greenland. However, while these prior moves may have been tactical successes, Americans remain highly skeptical of future actions.

According to the latest Economist/YouGov poll taken Jan. 16-19, while a plurality (47%) said Iran was an immediate or somewhat of a threat, only 33% support taking military action against Iran and 49% oppose the move. An even smaller number of people, 28%, support the U.S. bombing of Iran.

A move to overthrow the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei using military force was similarly unpopular, with only 32% in support. However, respondents doubted that their views would align with actual policy, as 53% believed military action was likely within the next month, compared with only 20% who thought it was unlikely.

Using U.S. military force in Greenland is even more unpopular, with only 9% supporting taking the island by force. Addressing that possibility, President Trump ruled out military action during a speech in Davos, saying, “We probably won’t get anything unless I decide to use excessive strength and force where we would be, frankly, unstoppable. But I won’t do that.”

However, Trump has continued to press for U.S. acquisition of Greenland, framing it as a strategic necessity rather than a military one. “We want a piece of ice for world protection, and they won’t give it. We’ve never asked for anything else. … So, they have a choice. You can say yes and we will be very appreciative, or you can say no and we will remember,” Trump said.

In a Truth Social post on Wednesday, he wrote that the outline of a deal for Greenland has now been established: “Based upon a very productive meeting that I have had with the Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, we have formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region.”

Even the purchase of Greenland is unpopular, with only 29% supporting it and 51% opposing it. The purchase is seen as less likely in the public’s eye than an attack on Iran, with 33% thinking the purchase is likely, while 41% say it is unlikely.

That skepticism extends to earlier U.S. actions as well. Even in hindsight, Americans do not have a favorable opinion of the U.S. operation to capture Maduro. Only 35% thought it was justified, and only 25% think the U.S. should take Venezuela’s oil.

Discontent with recent actions and potential future moves has contributed to Trump’s negative approval rating on foreign policy, with only 40.9% approving and 53.9% disapproving in the RealClearPolitics Polling Average. The focus on foreign policy also fails to resonate with voters, as only 1% list foreign policy as their top issue, and only 5% list national security as their top issue. Outranking both are domestic issues, including 22% who say inflation is the top issue, followed by the economy at 15%, health care at 12%, immigration at 12%, civil rights at 7%, and taxes and government spending at 6%.