As the Middle East conflict drags on, so do its political and economic ramifications. Heading into the 2026 midterms, Democrats hope to exploit the Iran War’s unpopularity to retake Congressional seats. And they have reason to believe they can. 

An overwhelming 84% of U.S. adults want the Trump Administration to focus more on the domestic economy, according to an April poll of Americans aged 18 and older by Outward Intelligence.

Most Americans care deeply about inflation, gas prices, and other pocketbook issues, and they want Washington to respond to their economic anxieties. Yet the U.S. government seems to be going in the opposite direction, with a focus on foreign policy. 

President Donald Trump ran on economic nationalism, but in 2026 has mostly delivered military adventurism. Now his “America First” promise collides head-on with the reality of an expanding war in the Middle East—one that affects the entire region, and Western economies to boot. 

The public wants restraint. The government is projecting force. The result: America’s allies are watching both with alarm, and Americans are facing a crisis of confidence not seen since the Carter Administration. 

Americans remain generally skeptical of what George........

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