War Powers and Congress

A new Quinnipiac University poll taken Jan. 9–12, 2026 finds 70% of U.S. voters oppose the United States taking military action in Iran in response to the regime’s killing of protesters, while just 18% favor a strike, even as President Donald Trump openly weighs bombing Iranian targets. Opposition cuts across party lines, with 80% of independents, 79% of Democrats and 53% of Republicans saying the U.S. should not get militarily involved if demonstrators are killed. The same survey shows 70% of voters believe presidents should obtain congressional approval before using military force abroad, including 95% of Democrats and 78% of independents, while a 54–35% majority of Republicans say such approval is not necessary. The findings come as rights groups estimate thousands of deaths in Iran’s nationwide protests and as Trump uses social media and TV interviews to urge Iranians to "KEEP PROTESTING" and warn Tehran of "very strong action" if it executes demonstrators. The data underscore a broad public reluctance to see another U.S. intervention in the Middle East and strong support, outside the GOP base, for reasserting congressional war‑powers limits on the presidency.