The ongoing war in Iran has disrupted President Donald Trump’s domestic agenda amid rising economic pressures and political challenges ahead of the midterm elections. Since the conflict’s escalation on February 28, public support for the military action has declined sharply, complicating the administration’s ability to focus on economic issues at home.

Trump planned a campaign tour of the West Coast this week, scheduled to speak at a Republican National Committee fundraiser in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, on Tuesday, followed by an event focused on the economy at Red Rock Casino in Las Vegas on Wednesday. Despite these efforts, the president faces skepticism from voters over his handling of the economy, where inflation and cost-of-living concerns loom large.

An AP-NORC poll conducted in late July found that only 32% of U.S. adults approved of Trump’s economic management. In the same survey, nearly 70% described the state of the economy as “poor,” with many citing the rising costs of essentials such as groceries and gasoline as significant stressors. Gasoline prices have surged to an average of $4.10 per gallon nationally, representing a more than 37% increase since the war began. This rise in fuel costs further burdens consumers already grappling with persistently high inflation.

Trump has contended that oil prices have generally remained lower than anticipated amid the conflict and predicted that gas prices will fall substantially once the war concludes. However, he has also criticized oil companies, including Chevron and Exxon, for reporting record profits during this period, urging them publicly to reduce prices. In social media statements and Oval Office remarks, Trump blamed these companies for fueling high gasoline costs despite his policies.

The war has also strained political support within Congress and among the American public. Trump stands as the first modern president to initiate a military conflict without broad public approval. Recent polling data underscore growing discontent: a Quinnipiac University survey showed 60% of voters oppose the war in Iran, a figure slightly higher than in May. A separate CNN/SSRS poll found that 74% of Americans—about 43% of them Republicans—believe the conflict has not justified its financial and human costs. The war has now claimed the lives of 18 U.S. service members, exceeding Trump’s original timeline prediction of a “four to five weeks” engagement.

Trump has sought to minimize both the duration and consequences of the war, dismissing negative polling as unreliable and positioning casualties as comparatively low next to past conflicts such as Vietnam. Nonetheless, political pressure is mounting. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, recently emphasized the need to bring the conflict to an end, especially as military actions resumed after a brief ceasefire collapsed.

Congressional authorization for the war remains a contentious issue. Trump initiated the conflict without explicit congressional approval, and although Senate Republicans recently voted against curtailing his war powers, many lawmakers have expressed uncertainty about the conflict’s trajectory amid funding requests for billions more dollars.

Democrats are leveraging the war as a campaign issue, targeting Republicans’ support for continued military engagement. In Maine, Democratic group Majority Forward has invested heavily in advertisements accusing Senator Susan Collins of giving Trump a “blank check” to wage war in Iran.

With economic concerns and war fatigue mounting, the conflict continues to challenge the Trump administration’s political standing as the November midterm elections approach.