Trump's Tenure Takes a Toll on U.S. Image Abroad
Global prestige of the United States is waning on a global scale
Donald Trump's presidency is causing a notable decrease in the U.S.'s image across the globe, as per a recent study by the Pew Research Center. This study scrutinized the foreign perceptions of the U.S. in 24 countries, revealing a drop in favorability ratings in 15 of them.
The German Perspective
In neighboring Germany, favorability plummeted in the wake of Trump's election. Between 2024 and 2025, the proportion of people viewing the U.S. favorably shrank by 16 percentage points, pulling back from 48% to 33%. Staggeringly, 66% of German respondents are now against the U.S., compared to merely 48% in the previous year.
A Critical Reception in Sweden and Mexico
Europe, especially Poland, witnessed the sharpest slide in the U.S.'s image. In every country surveyed, Sweden had the least favorable view of the U.S., with 79% of respondents displaying a disapproving stance. Mexico, a target of Trump's immigration policies, now has a majority with a negative perception of the U.S., a significant shift from the positive outlook seen during Joe Biden's tenure.
Trump met with little sympathies in most surveyed countries when it comes to his character and policies, with Mexico registering the lowest ratings. An overwhelming 91% of Mexican respondents expressed mistrust in Trump’s ability to make sound international decisions.
A Few Bright Spots
In contrast, the U.S. was seen in a positive light in Israel, a country supportive of Trump and his administration. Here, 83% expressed a favorable opinion of the U.S., marking the optimal global view of the country.
Despite the favorable numbers in Israel, it's not all sunshine and roses - four out of every five respondents globally regarded Trump as arrogant. Only 28% saw him as honest. Across the board, Trump's stand on key issues such as the Ukraine war, the Gaza war, immigration, and climate change left more people in doubt rather than support.
The survey was conducted between January and April, polling a grand total of 28,333 adults across 24 countries. Sources: ntv.de, mbr/AFP
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- Donald Trump
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Additional Insights:The study highlights a decrease in global confidence in Trump, with only 34% holding faith in his ability to make prudent decisions regarding international affairs (source: Pew Research Center). Majorities in most countries lack trust in Trump regarding handling key issues, including immigration, conflict in Ukraine and Israel, China, and climate change (source: Pew Research Center). Additionally, majorities across countries perceive Trump as "dangerous" (source: Pew Research Center).
The study conducted by the Pew Research Center reveals a significant decline in global confidence in Donald Trump's ability to make informed decisions about international affairs, with only 34% expressing trust (Pew Research Center). Moreover, the employment policies implemented during Trump's tenure, as well as his community and general-news politics, have been met with skepticism and mistrust among majorities in multiple countries, particularly regarding key issues such as immigration, conflict in Ukraine and Israel, China, and climate change (Pew Research Center).
