MAGA Republicans Favor Iran Regime Change Over Diplomacy: Poll
Americans are split almost evenly on Iran policy, with 39 percent favoring negotiated settlement and 36 percent supporting regime change, according to a new Reagan Institute poll.
American public opinion remains sharply divided on how the United States should deal with Iran, with voters split almost evenly between pursuing regime change and negotiating a settlement with Tehran’s current leadership, according to new polling data.
The Reagan Institute Summer Survey reveals that 39 percent of Americans favor a negotiated settlement allowing Iran’s current government to remain in power with verifiable restrictions on its nuclear and missile programs, as New York Post reports. Meanwhile, 36 percent support replacing the Iranian regime with a government more aligned with American interests.
An additional 16 percent of respondents favor keeping the current Tehran leadership in place but weakening it substantially through military and economic pressure, while 8 percent stated they were unsure.
The findings highlight the political tightrope President Donald Trump must walk as his administration implements a recently signed memorandum of understanding with Iran. The agreement aims to restrain Tehran’s nuclear program through diplomatic channels, but Americans remain deeply conflicted about whether engagement or overthrow should be Washington’s ultimate goal.
Republicans Overwhelmingly Back Regime Change
Republican voters demonstrated a strong preference for replacing Iran’s government, favoring regime change over diplomatic negotiations by a two-to-one margin, according to New York Post.
Half of all Republican respondents stated they would prefer to see Iran’s current government replaced with one more favorable to the United States, compared to only 25 percent who backed a negotiated settlement that leaves the Islamic Republic intact in exchange for verifiable nuclear and missile restrictions.
Self-identified MAGA Republicans showed nearly identical results, with 51 percent supporting regime change and 25 percent backing a negotiated agreement.
Democrats Strongly Favor Diplomatic Settlement
Democratic voters, by contrast, overwhelmingly preferred engagement with Tehran. A majority of 52 percent said they would favor a negotiated settlement with Iran’s current government, while only 25 percent supported regime change. Another 14 percent favored keeping the regime in place while substantially weakening it militarily and economically.
Survey Methodology and Scope
The Reagan Institute Summer Survey was conducted between May 26 and June 3 among 1,555 respondents nationwide, carrying a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.
Researchers employed a mixed-mode methodology including live telephone interviews, an online panel, and text-to-web responses. Results were weighted using demographic benchmarks from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey, including age, gender, race, region, and education levels.
The poll included an oversample of 331 MAGA Republicans under age 30, a demographic segment with a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.
The Reagan Institute is a Washington-based policy organization that promotes the Reagan foreign-policy tradition of peace through strength and sustained American global leadership.
Trump Defends Iran Agreement
The polling results arrive as President Trump has defended his newly signed memorandum of understanding with Iran as a mechanism to reduce regional tensions and establish a pathway toward a broader agreement addressing Tehran’s nuclear program.
The memorandum creates a 60-day negotiating period during which Washington and Tehran will attempt to reach a more comprehensive deal. The agreement also includes provisions aimed at restoring commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and provides limited sanctions waivers tied to continued negotiations.
Several highly contentious issues, including the long-term trajectory of Iran’s nuclear program, are expected to be addressed in subsequent talks.
Trump has characterized the arrangement as a way to avoid broader military conflict while pursuing what he called a great settlement with Tehran. He has also argued that the agreement could stabilize energy markets by reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping chokepoint, while creating opportunities to negotiate additional restrictions on Iran’s nuclear activities.
Speaking to reporters at the G7 Summit in France, the president explained that he agreed to a settlement to prevent economic disaster. I didn’t want to see economic catastrophe, Trump stated, warning that continued confrontation could have triggered such an outcome.
With information from New York Post
