Vice President JD Vance quietly collaborated with a prominent pollster in early 2026 to bolster his case against launching military strikes on Iran, according to a new Wall Street Journal report. The behind-the-scenes effort aimed to convince President Donald Trump that voters would reject a regime-change war.
Vance reportedly urged Mark Mitchell, then head of Rasmussen Reports, to include specific questions in a national survey about potential conflict with Iran. The poll tested public support for overthrowing Iran’s government, acceptable U.S. casualty levels, and whether Trump should seek congressional approval first.
Polling Revealed Public Hesitation
The results, obtained by The Daily Wire, showed a nation sharply divided. Only 44% of likely voters backed military action to topple Iran’s regime, while 43% opposed it. A strong majority (65%) wanted congressional authorization, and 62% said acceptable American combat deaths should stay under 100.
Half supported defending Iranian protesters with force, but 38% opposed any intervention. The data reportedly shaped Vance’s arguments during internal White House debates before the February 2026 bombing campaign that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and triggered the ongoing Iran War.
Pollster’s Controversial Turn
Mitchell, who now runs The Honest Poll, has since become a vocal critic of Israel and made unfounded claims that Jewish donors pressured Trump into the conflict. In July 2026, he called for Benjamin Netanyahu’s arrest and labeled Israel “genocidal” and “evil.”
When asked about the Journal’s report, Mitchell defended providing “honest and accurate numbers” to leaders. “I would hope that politicians of any political persuasion would be open to reviewing my polling,” he said.
Election Reckoning
The war’s political fallout became undeniable in the 2026 midterms, where exit polls named it a top voter concern. NBC found 74% of voters considered it crucial or major to their decisions, with 63% believing the strikes were wrong. Trump has acknowledged the backlash contributed to historic GOP losses but stands by his choice.
Vance, among the few administration voices urging diplomacy over war, bluntly attributed the electoral “bloodbath” to the conflict. “The reason we lost is the war,” he said post-election, echoing Trump’s own private remarks.
Source: www.dailywire.com — https://www.dailywire.com/news/behind-scenes-vance-worked-with-pollster-to-bolster-argument-against-iran-war