Survey Reveals Decline in US Favorability Since Trump’s Return

The global perception of the United States has significantly worsened since Donald Trump returned to political prominence, with unfavorable views concerning both his character and policies, according to a recent international survey.

The Pew Research Center’s findings indicated a decline in favorability towards the U.S. in 15 out of the 24 countries surveyed.

In Mexico, where Trump has often made derogatory remarks and voiced strong opinions about immigration, 91% of respondents expressed a lack of confidence in his global leadership.

Overall, Trump’s return to power has contributed to a negative shift in how the U.S. is perceived.

Both Mexico and Canada, which Trump has provocatively suggested could join the U.S. as the 51st state, now view the United States unfavorably, a stark contrast from the favorable views held during Joe Biden’s presidency last year.

European opinions have also soured, particularly in Poland, a key ally of Ukraine, as Trump has moved to lessen U.S. support for Kyiv while advocating for negotiations with Russia.

Sweden, which joined NATO during Biden’s administration following the Ukraine conflict, expressed the most negative sentiment towards the U.S., with 79% of respondents sharing unfavorable views.

The survey showed that majorities in all surveyed countries disagreed with Trump’s key policies regarding Ukraine, Gaza, immigration, and climate change.

Additionally, 80% described Trump as arrogant, while only 28% considered him honest.

Not as Severe as His First Term

Israel, benefiting from strong U.S. support during the Gaza conflict, displayed the most favorable opinion of the U.S. at 83%, a slight improvement from Trump’s previous term.

Positive views of the U.S. still prevail in Nigeria and Kenya, countries that have consistently rated the U.S. favorably, regardless of the president’s identity, while India showed little change, with over half maintaining a favorable view.

Since his return to office, Trump has rolled out one of the most extensive agendas seen by any U.S. president, including significant cuts to foreign aid and a strict approach towards immigration.

However, global opinions of Trump, while still negative, are not as dire as they were when he first took office in 2017.

During his first term, Trump followed Barack Obama, who enjoyed worldwide popularity, whereas this time, he is compared to Joe Biden, whose global ratings are nearly indistinguishable from Trump’s concerning economic issues, according to Janell Fetterolf, a researcher at Pew Research Center.

The past decade has also seen a rise in the normalization of right-wing populism.

In Brazil, where Trump ally Jair Bolsonaro served from 2019 to 2022, Trump won the support of 34% of the public this year, a notable increase from the 14% he garnered at the start of his first term.

Globally, Trump tends to receive more backing from men than women and is viewed more positively by individuals on the right of the political spectrum.

However, the survey highlights the limited scope of his international appeal. In Sweden and France, Trump failed to gain the confidence of a majority of supporters for far-right nationalist parties, even though their backing was stronger than that of the general populace.

The annual survey engaged 28,333 adults across 24 countries from January to April.