• A new Reuters (NASDAQ:TRI)/Ipsos (EURONEXT:IPS) poll finds broad public demand for Congress to end the Iran war and repeal Trump's import tariffs, with 71% and 62% support respectively.
  • Democrats, set to control both chambers on January 3, plan early votes on the war, tariffs, and healthcare costs, but face a likely presidential veto.
  • Trump's job approval stands at 32%, with only 21% approving of his handling of living costs, underscoring voter frustration with affordability.

Broad Mandate, Steep Obstacles

A new Reuters/Ipsos poll released Monday shows overwhelming public pressure on the incoming Democratic-controlled Congress to address the Iran war and rising living costs, with 71% of Americans supporting congressional action to end the conflict and 62% backing repeal of President Trump’s import tariffs. The survey, conducted November 6–9 among 1,705 U.S. adults, carries a margin of error of ±2.4 percentage points.

The findings arrive as Democrats prepare to take control of both chambers on January 3, following electoral victories that party leaders have framed as a mandate for affordability relief. According to people familiar with the matter, incoming House leadership plans early votes on healthcare assistance, the war, and tariffs once the new Congress convenes. Hakeem Jeffries, in line to become speaker, has signaled the party intends to move quickly.

Yet the poll also reveals the limits of that mandate: Trump’s job approval stands at just 32%, unchanged across three consecutive surveys and barely above his October low of 31%. His economic approval is even weaker at 25%, while only 21% approve of his handling of living costs. The numbers suggest deep dissatisfaction that crosses party lines, but they do not guarantee legislative success.

Veto Power Looms

Despite the strong polling, efforts to reverse Trump’s policies face formidable hurdles. The president retains substantial executive authority over military operations and trade policy, and he has already signaled a willingness to veto Democratic legislation. Overcoming a veto would require two-thirds support in both chambers, making Republican cooperation essential.

Senate procedure poses another obstacle: many ordinary bills face a 60-vote threshold to overcome a filibuster. Democrats can advance bills and seek restrictions on war funding, but without Republican support, their agenda could stall. The poll is evidence of political pressure—not evidence that Congress has already ended the war or repealed tariffs.

The survey also shows Republican support for ending the war at about 51%, according to the headline findings, a rare bipartisan consensus on the conflict. Reuters reported that the war has constrained Gulf crude-oil and liquefied-natural-gas supplies, raising fuel prices internationally and making the conflict an economic issue for households far beyond the United States.

Economic Pain, Political Risk

For American households, the immediate concern is purchasing power: fuel and imported-goods costs are stretching incomes thinner. The poll found that 90% of respondents want Congress to prioritize the cost of living, a figure attributed to the headline findings. Democrats are coupling war and tariff measures with proposals on healthcare, housing, groceries, energy, and caregiving—an effort to frame the election as a broader affordability mandate.

“What institutional investors like us are really focused on is regulatory stability,” said one analyst, speaking on condition of anonymity. “But for consumers, it’s about prices at the pump and the checkout counter.”

Businesses, meanwhile, are watching for signals on energy supplies and trade rules. Reuters’ affordability analysis identified tariffs as a contributor to inflation, alongside the war and other pressures, and reported that the administration is using trade-law authorities including Section 301 and Section 232 to maintain them. A war settlement would likely lower oil prices over time, but shipping arrangements and potential transit fees could prevent a simple return to prewar conditions.

International Recalibration

The election has also prompted allies, trading partners, and Iran to reassess their positions. Ebtesam al-Ketbi, president of the Emirates Policy Center, argued that a genuine opening for a settlement could emerge if Tehran recognizes Trump’s need for a deal—a conditional assessment, not confirmation that negotiations will succeed. On trade, former Indian trade secretary Anup Wadhawan said the election weakens Trump’s freedom to impose tariffs, while some Asian governments may become less willing to move quickly on investment commitments made to obtain tariff relief.

Back home, progressive groups are pressing Democrats to reconsider the Senate filibuster if it blocks their agenda. Democratic leaders have not committed to doing so. The central debate is both substantive and institutional: which policies would lower costs, and how far should Congress go to overcome presidential and procedural resistance?

As the January 3 transition approaches, the poll offers a snapshot of public sentiment but leaves open the question of whether lawmakers can translate popularity into policy. Efforts to reach the White House for comment were not immediately successful.

Clarification: An earlier version of this article misstated the margin of error for subgroup findings. It is larger than the full-sample ±2.4 percentage points.