US 71% poll shows support for ending war and Trump tariffs

A new poll out this week found that most Americans want their newly elected Congress to do two things fast: end the war, and get rid of President Trump’s tariffs.

The Reuters/Ipsos survey points to growing frustration in the US over the cost of living. For people in Kuwait, this matters more than it might seem. The direction the US Congress takes on tariffs and foreign policy can affect oil prices, trade and the wider security picture in the Gulf, something we’ve been following closely in our coverage of Iran war tensions and what they mean for Kuwait.

What the poll actually found

According to the source material, the poll shows a clear signal from voters: they want quick action, not slow debate, from the Congress that Americans elected just days ago. Democrats took back control of the Senate on 4 November, a result we covered in our report on Democrats retaking the Senate after Trump’s midterm setback.

The poll does not specify which war it is asking about. Given the timing, it is reasonable to assume many respondents had in mind the tense standoff between the US and Iran, which has been building for weeks. We’ve reported on Trump renewing his Iran strike threat as Tehran warns of a longer war, and on what a possible US-Iran war restart could mean for the GCC. But the source does not confirm this link, so readers should treat it as context, not fact.

On tariffs, the message is more direct. Trump put a series of tariffs in place during his term, and the poll suggests most Americans now want them repealed. The poll ties this demand to the high cost of living in the US, where imported goods affected by tariffs tend to cost more at the till.

Why this matters in Kuwait

Kuwait’s economy runs on oil, trade and a large expat workforce, so shifts in US policy rarely stay a purely American story. If the new Congress moves to cool tensions abroad or roll back tariffs, that could ease some of the uncertainty that has been pushing up shipping costs and unsettling markets this year.

If instead tensions with Iran keep rising, as we discussed in our piece on Trump saying there will soon be action with no Iran talks, that keeps the Gulf on edge, something residents here have grown used to watching closely over the past year.

For expats sending money home or following global prices, tariff policy also matters. Tariffs tend to raise prices on goods moving through global supply chains, and Kuwait is not isolated from that. A repeal could, over time, ease some of that pressure, though nothing in this poll tells us whether Congress will actually act on what voters want.

You can find more of our international news coverage as this story develops.

What’s still unclear

The source does not say how many people were surveyed, when exactly the poll was carried out, or what percentage of Americans backed each demand. It also does not name which war respondents meant. Until Reuters or Ipsos release fuller numbers, these details remain open.

What is clear is the mood: Americans want their new Congress to move fast on both the war and the tariffs. Whether Congress listens is the next thing to watch, and we’ll keep following it from here.

Do you think changes in US policy on tariffs or the war would affect prices or jobs here in Kuwait? Let us know in the comments.