Did Trump's 'whole civilization' threat go too far? Tell us. | Opinion

President Donald Trump told Fox News he was in "heated negotiations" with Iran as his self-imposed deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz neared. With urgings from Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Trump's extending his 8 p.m. ET April 7 deadline by two weeks, calling the move a "double sided CEASEFIRE!" Earlier in the day, the president wrote on Truth Social, "A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will."

Trump's threats have escalated even as public support has plummeted for the war he started Feb. 28. A Pew Research Center poll released April 7 showed that more than 60% of Americans are "not too" or "not at all" confident in the president's policymaking in Iran. Among Republicans, polls show a 12-point decline in confidence since 2025.

A majority of Americans – 69% – are worried about high fuel prices as the conflict continues. The national average for regular gas is $4.14 a gallon, according to AAA.

And 61% of Americans are worried about the United States sending ground troops into Iran, while 53% worry about the war expanding beyond the region.

According to a CNN poll released April 1, nearly two-thirds of Americans say Trump's foreign policies have worsened economic conditions here at home. Even among Republicans, the president's approval rating has dropped to 43% – down 9 percentage points from January.

What is your biggest concern about Trump's Iran war? Tell us below.

Indeed, Trump's increasingly inflammatory language around Iran and callousness about casualties has even drawn the ire of onetime MAGA loyalists. Conservative talking head Tucker Carlson called Trump's post "vile" on "every level." Former Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia suggested the president be removed from office by invoking the 25th Amendment.

Thirteen U.S. service members have been killed as a result of the Iran war, and U.S. and Israeli strikes have killed more than 1,900 people in Iran, NBC News reports. The death toll across the Middle East is more than 3,400 people – including those killed in strikes in Lebanon and Israel.

As tensions in the region, in the Republican Party and in the United States increase, we want to know what you think.

• Are you troubled by Trump's Truth Social threats?
• Are you paying higher prices at the pump – or concerned about increased costs down the line?
• Are you worried about increased American involvement in the war and presence in the Middle East?
• Has the Iran war changed your opinion of Trump?
• Do you think it will change your vote?

Scroll down to fill out our survey below. You can also email us your thoughts at [email protected] using the subject line "Forum Trump Iran deadline," or leave us a voicemail at (202) 655-3923.

Janessa Hilliard is the director of audience for USA TODAY Opinion and Opinion at USA TODAY Co.