U.S. Reputation Gets a Little… Strain in the Global Tug‑of‑War
The latest rip-roaring survey from the Pew Research Centre shows that the United States’ image has slid a tune further into the abyss among its old buddies, thanks to a full‑blown year of President Trump rattling the door on pals like Canada and Germany.
What the Numbers Tell Us
- International Confidence: Across 25 nations, only 27 % trust Trump’s leadership—nearly the same as 30 % for Putin and a notch above 34 % for Xi.
- Morning Glory in the Middle East: Israel, the Philippines, and South Korea cheer Trump with over 80 % positive vibes.
- European Lament: Germany’s stride towards the U.S. is a 30 % favorite, the lowest in the study; France (38 %) and Canada (39 %) follow suit, slipping a few points from last year. Mexico takes a tiny dip to 32 %.
- Leadership Love‑hate: Only 7 % of Spaniards, 9 % of French, and 10 % of Germans feel confident in Trump—none of which takes a hit even when the U.S. has the best record overall.
- Cool Confidence for Merkel & Macron: Angela Merkel enjoys a 52 % support crown, while Emmanuel Macron closes in with 46 %.
- Global Takeaway: Despite low poll numbers, a sizable 63 % of respondents say an American-led world is preferable to a China‑commanded one.
What Allies Think About Freedom
Majorities in Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Australia, and Mexico feel the U.S. government is nipping at civil liberties—an obvious nod to Trump’s “America First” mantra.
Do Allies Actually Care About Them?
A striking 19 out of 25 nations reckon the U.S. cases too little to weigh their interests when deciding on international policy. That’s Trump’s flavor of diplomacy—domestic drama first, then the rest of the world.
Snapshot of the Trump Era
- With “Paris climate accord,” “Iran nuclear deal” out the door.
- Friendship with tough lords like Putin and Kim Jong‑Un.
- “Unhappy with Germany’s gas share,” “Canada’s Trudeau is weak.”
- Made the UN crowd chuckle by bragging he out‑performed all past presidents in two years—
How This Steam‑Boat Comes Through the Survey
The survey ran from May to August, chatting with over 900 participants in each of those 25 nations. If data is the new gold, these numbers are a rough compass pointing toward a diplomatic ship in rough waters.
For the beat-up, yet still riveting, picture of the U.S. on the world stage, you’ve got to keep reading—because politics is a circus where the show never ends.
