The reputation of the US in the world has declined since Trump became president. PEW Research found, already in June 2025, that a majority of the population of key allies developed a less favorable view of the US after 2024:
nation % negative 2025 % negative in 2024
Sweden 79 44
Australia 71 60
Netherlands 69 48
Mexico 69 33
Germany 66 48
Canada 64 41
Spain 64 43
France 59 48
Japan 44 28
The opinion of the US has worsened in the year after that poll. PEW Research surveyed citizens of 36 countries again in June 2026 and found that 57% had an unfavorable view of the US, and 76% had "no confidence in Trump." In only five nations did more than half the population think Trump could be trusted: The Philippines, Israel, Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana. Among the traditional allies of the United States there was a tidal wave of no confidence in Trump, topped by Turkey (92%), Sweden (89%), and Mexico (88%). More than 80% of EU citizens polled had no confidence in Trump.
By comparison, at the end of eight years in the White House in 2016, 80% of French, German, and British citizens had confidence in President Obama as a partner.
The United States had a much better rating as a nation during the Biden presidency. In 2022, 83% of Swedes thought the United States was a reliable partner. In the second year of Trump's presidency that number had fallen to 31%. In Canada the decline was from 85% to 35%; in Germany from 83% to 39%. Trust that the US was a reliable partner fell to even lower levels in Italy (34%), Spain (31%), and France (27%).
This is a catastrophic shift in popular opinion, and Trump's actions after the PEW poll was taken in June this year cannot possibly improve matters. Already, however, Trump has achieved for the US what once looked impossible: an international ranking that is worse than Russia under Putin.
