While a significant number of Americans feel that the United States has emerged victorious in its conflict with Iran, many question whether the war was worth initiating in the first place.
As Vice President JD Vance, alongside Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, gears up for diplomatic talks with Iranian leaders in Islamabad, Pakistan, this Saturday, a sense of triumph prevails among the American public regarding the conflict that has now stretched into its second month.
The financial burden of this six-week military campaign is considerable, with the American Enterprise Institute estimating the cost to taxpayers at approximately $35 billion.
Throughout the operation, more than 13,000 targets within Iran were struck, involving over 10,000 flight missions, including 62 bomber flights, and engaging 50,000 military personnel in total.
A recent survey conducted by Daily Mail/JL Partners, which polled over 1,000 registered voters, reveals that 33 percent perceive President Donald Trump’s military actions against the Islamic Republic as a decisive victory for the U.S.
Conversely, only 13 percent of respondents viewed the outcome as a triumph for Iran. Meanwhile, 24 percent believe the conflict ended in a stalemate, and 30 percent remain uncertain about the results.
Surprisingly, just over half of Trump voters – 58 percent – say the war was a victory despite MAGA allies publicly slamming the operation.
President Donald Trump has claimed victory in the Iran war, and the latest Daily Mail/JL Partners survey finds that a third of American voters agree
Trump himself has repeatedly claimed victory: ‘You never like to say too early you won. We won. In the first hour it was over.’
But after a ceasefire deal was struck late Tuesday, there have been reported bombings across the Middle East after the fact, putting the temporary two-week armistice on shaky ground as the American delegation enters talks with their Iranian counterparts.
However, American voters were much more pessimistic about whether the war was a worthwhile endeavor.
When asked if the war was worth fighting, the most popular answer was ‘definitely not.’
Half of the respondents – 50 percent – said the war was either probably or definitely not worth it. On the other hand, 38 percent said that the war is worth fighting.
In addition, nearly half of respondents – 49 percent – believe that Trump has fallen short of his objectives in the military campaign, and the outcome is not a clear success.
Conversely, 30 percent said Trump has achieved his desired outcome; just 52 percent of the President’s supporters say the Republican has gotten what he wanted.
Despite the President’s repeated claim that the US has obliterated Iran’s nuclear program, just 5 percent of respondents said they believe all the capabilities are destroyed.
A similar result was found when asking about another central claim the President and his team have said; only 6 percent think Iran’s non-nuclear missile capabilities are destroyed.
The price tag on the six-week offensive is estimated to be around $35 billion, according to the American Enterprise Institute.
Keeping the US war machine running while tens of thousands of troops are stationed on the other side of the globe is a costly logistical game with staggering numbers.
The price tag on the six-week offensive is estimated to be around $35 billion, according to the American Enterprise Institute
Just 5 percent of survey respondents believe that US forces have destroyed all of Iran’s nuclear capabilities

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Dan Caine said that US forces have consumed 6 million meals during Operation Epic Fury so far
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Dan Caine noted that American troops have consumed a mind-numbing amount of caffeine and nicotine as they keep pressure on the regime.
‘Along the way, we consumed more than 6 million meals, and by my estimate, more than 950,000 gallons of coffee, 2 million energy drinks, and a lot of nicotine, but I am not saying that we have a problem,’ he said at a press conference this week.
The Trump administration has already circulated a request for an additional $200 billion for the Pentagon.
Though that number may come down, officials have reportedly said.











