CNN data analyst Harry Enten reports the American public is with President Donald Trump on Iran; 79% of Americans believe Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.

SARA SIDNER: This morning, sources say President Trump is warming to the idea of using the U.S. military to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities. The American public, though, has made their feelings on the matter very clear about whether the United States should enter this war. With recent polling, CNN’s chief data analyst Harry Enten joining me now. You’ve looked at all the numbers. Trump has said that Iran cannot possibly get a nuclear weapon. That is what this is all about. How do Americans feel about that particular thing? HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: Yes, look, I think it’s a complicated picture overall. But on this particular question, and overall I feel like there’s more support for Donald Trump’s positions than is comically acknowledged. Oppose Iran getting a nuclear weapon. I mean, look at this, 79 percent of adults agree on that. They agree with Donald Trump, Iran cannot get a nuclear weapon. Eighty-three percent of Republicans, 79 percent of independents, 79 percent of Democrats. When you get 79 percent of Democrats and 83 percent of Republicans agreeing on anything, you know that that position is the very clear majority in this country. And so, the American public is with Donald Trump. They definitely oppose Iran getting nuclear weapons. SIDNER: So, this is a nuance here but, you know, Trump and Netanyahu both arguing that Iran is close to — to being capable of making a nuclear weapon. If that is the case, what is the feeling of — of Americans as to whether the United States should get involved in this conflict? ENTEN: Right. If you buy Donald Trump’s theory of the case, and I think that’s important to note, this is polling from — from April. If Iran’s trying to make a nuclear weapon, look at this, overall, you get the slight plurality. I mean it’s within the margin of error, but the slight plurality of Americans actually favor U.S. airstrikes compared to 47 percent opposing it. Now, here’s the other nugget I’ll note, right? There’s been a lot of talk online and on social media and in podcasts of a divide within the Republican ranks. But here, on this question, if Iran’s trying to make a nuclear weapon, look at that, 69 percent of Republicans. The clear vast majority of Republicans favor U.S. airstrikes on Iran on their nuclear facilities. But there is this substantial minority, 27 percent, who oppose such an idea. So, it’s not surprising you’re hearing those other voices besides Donald Trump out there. There are plenty of them in the Republican ranks who oppose striking — the U.S. striking Iran if they’re trying to make a nuclear weapon. But the clear majority, the clear majority of Republicans are with Donald Trump if, in fact, Iran is trying to make nuclear weapons, they do, in fact, potentially favor U.S. airstrikes. SIDNER: Do Americans prefer sort of military action here or a diplomatic solution when it comes to Iran? ENTEN: Right. So, you know, we’re talking about, you can favor one thing, but you could also favor another thing more. So, yes, the U.S. — the U.S. public plurality and the vast majority of Republicans would favor U.S. airstrikes if Iran is trying to make a nuclear weapon. But what do they prefer? To limit the risk of Iran making nuclear weapons, the American public prefers what? They prefer a negotiated agreement, 69 percent. Sixty-nine percent of the American public prefer a negotiated agreement, as compared to 14 percent who prefer taking military action. I will note, Sara Sidner, that this 69 percent includes 64 percent of Republicans. So even there, even if Republicans, the clear majority, would, in fact, support airstrikes on Iran, U.S. airstrikes on Iran, they prefer a negotiated agreement. SIDNER: And you’ve looked across the board, but we do need to mention that this was in May of 2025 that this polling was taken. We are now well into June, and these strikes are happening, and the United States is being sort of asked to come into the war by Israel. ENTEN: We have polling now. We’ll see where this polling takes us as the political sides make their arguments.

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