Balance of Power

Iran War Causes Trump Woes. Not So Netanyahu

Polls in Israel show overwhelming support for the conflict.

A building hit by an Israeli strike in Marjayoun, southern Lebanon, on March 17.Photographer: AFP/Getty Images

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By Ethan Bronner

March 19, 2026 at 10:59 AM UTC

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In Washington, the Iran war is stirring trouble — calls for an exit ramp, charges of poor planning and delusional expectations, a high-level resignation and a majority of the public opposed. President Donald Trump’s Republican Party is worried as midterm elections loom.