Will Trump be able to solve Ukraine and Gaza wars? What Americans said in a poll
On the campaign trail, President Donald Trump promised he would swiftly end the war in Ukraine. “I’ll have that done in 24 hours,” he said. Taking on the mantle of a peacemaker, he also vowed to resolve the war in Gaza, saying, “We’re going to get it to work out.”
But, now — more than 100 days into his presidency — most Americans are pessimistic about his ability to resolve either of the foreign conflicts, according to a new survey.
In the latest Harvard CAPS Harris poll, 58% of respondents said they do not think Trump will solve the Ukraine-Russia war. Meanwhile, 42% said they think he will settle the war.
Similarly, 59% of respondents said they don’t believe the president will bring about peace in the Israel-Hamas war, while 41% said they believe he will.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the results broke along partisan lines.
On Ukraine, most Democrats and independents — 84% and 65%, respectively — said Trump would be unable to end the war, while 74% of Republicans said he would terminate the fighting.
And on Israel, 85% of Democrats and 65% of independents said the president would not solve the war, while 71% of Republicans said he will.
The poll sampled 1,903 registered voters May 14-15 and has a margin of error of 2.2 percentage points.
Repeated attempts to end the wars
Since taking office in January, Trump has repeatedly attempted to broker a peace deal for both wars — though with limited success so far.
His administration has hosted and encouraged peace negotiations for the Ukraine war, including in Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
He has also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on several occasions to discuss ending the current conflict — which began in February 2022 and has left more than 1 million people dead or injured, according to The Wall Street Journal.
However, one such meeting — which took place at the White House in February — became contentious and led Trump to state that Zelenskyy “disrespected” the U.S. and “is not ready for Peace if America is involved.”
The Wall Street Journal also reported in May that the president has grown frustrated in his attempt to end the war, complaining to advisers about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s unwillingness to compromise.
Trump and his administration have also worked to bring an end to the Israel-Hamas war, which began in October 2023, when Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing around 1,200 people, according to Israeli officials. As a result of the conflict, more than 53,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed — and many have gone without adequate food and water, according to Palestinian officials.
In his effort to end the war, Trump has put forward a number of different proposals, including one controversial plan that would include the U.S. taking over Gaza and relocating its inhabitants.
His administration also played a role in brokering a temporary ceasefire in Gaza, which lasted from January to March.
In recent weeks, Trump has also become frustrated with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his decision to open up a new offensive in Gaza, according to NBC News. And, during Trump’s recent Middle East trip, he notably skipped out on visiting Israel.
This story was originally published May 19, 2025 at 12:46 PM with the headline "Will Trump be able to solve Ukraine and Gaza wars? What Americans said in a poll."