Trending Now - Public Concern Grows Over Iran War and Its Direction
WHO:
President Donald Trump
Phil Klay, Marine Corps veteran and novelist
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth
Stephen Miller, Trump aide
George F. Will, conservative columnist
David French, conservative columnist
CBS News
YouGov
WHAT:
Phil Klay criticized the Trump administration's explanations for the Iran war as “stunningly incoherent.”
Klay described the war as a “war of choice, not of necessity.”
A CBS News/YouGov survey indicated that most Americans feel the Iran war is not going well.
The survey found that 40% of Americans approve of President Trump's overall performance.
The margin of error for the CBS News/YouGov survey is ±2.1 points.
The survey was conducted with a nationally representative sample of 3,335 U.S. adults.
WHERE:
United States
The survey was conducted nationwide.
WHEN:
The CBS News/YouGov survey was conducted between March 17th and March 20th, 2026.
Klay's editorial was published on a Sunday in March 2026.
WHY:
Americans want to stop Iran's nuclear program and ensure the Iranian people are free.
Rising gas prices are fueling pessimism about the U.S. economy.
There is a growing disapproval of the U.S. military action in Iran since the start of the war.
HOW:
The Trump administration has been criticized for not clearly explaining the goals of the Iran war.
The U.S. and Israel have established air dominance over Iran, destroying much of its military capabilities.
(UPDATED March 22, 2026 17:20 UTC)
In a recent editorial, Phil Klay, a Marine Corps veteran and novelist, sharply criticized the Trump administration's explanations for the Iran war, calling them “stunningly incoherent” and labeling the conflict a “war of choice, not of necessity.” A CBS News/YouGov survey conducted between March 17th and March 20th found that most Americans believe the war is not going well, with only 40% approving of Trump's overall performance, amid rising gas prices and growing disapproval of U.S. military action in Iran. The survey, which included a nationally representative sample of 3,335 adults, revealed that many Americans are concerned about stopping Iran's nuclear program and ensuring freedom for the Iranian people.