People around the world have differing assessments of the United States and its president, according to a new Pew Research Center study. On one hand, views of the U.S. are favorable across many of the 33 countries we surveyed in 2019. On the other, confidence in U.S. President Donald Trump is low, though not as low as it was shortly after he took office in 2017.
As has been the case in past surveys by the Center, Trump inspires much less confidence globally than his predecessor, Barack Obama, and he receives more negative marks than other current world leaders, such as Germany’s Angela Merkel. In addition, Trump’s foreign policies are deeply unpopular. Support for Trump and these policies abroad disproportionately comes from people on the ideological right and those who favor right-wing populist parties in Europe.
Here are 10 charts that show how people around the world see the U.S. and its president, based on the new report:
How we did this
This analysis focuses on understanding the international image of the United States and worldwide confidence in U.S. President Donald Trump and approval of his signature foreign policies. Pew Research Center has been tracking views of the U.S. and confidence in the U.S. president over the past 20 years. The report also includes trend comparisons of confidence in Trump to his predecessors (Barack Obama and George W. Bush) as well as other current world leaders (Angela Merkel, Emmanuel Macron, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping).
For this report, we used data from a survey conducted across 33 countries from May 18 to Oct. 2, 2019, totaling 36,923 respondents. The surveys were conducted face-to-face across Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and South Asia and on the phone in the North America and East Asia. Across Europe, the survey was conducted over the phone in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the UK, but face-to-face in Central and Eastern Europe, Italy, Ukraine and Russia. U.S. data and analysis are excluded from this report.
Here are the questions used for the report, along with responses, and its methodology.
1 Opinions of the U.S. vary substantially across the globe. Among the countries surveyed, positive views of the U.S. are most common in Israel, the Philippines, Poland, South Korea, Ukraine and Lithuania. (The survey was conducted in Ukraine prior to revelations regarding Trump’s July 25, 2019, phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.) By comparison, only 39% of Germans and 20% of people in Turkey have a positive opinion of the U.S.
2 Views of the U.S. remain relatively positive, despite declining somewhat since the end of the Obama era. Across 24 countries that have been surveyed consistently since 2015 and 2016, a median of 53% of adults have a favorable view of the U.S., slightly below the 64% who had a positive view at the end of the Obama administration. People in these countries are now more likely to have a favorable view of the U.S. than to have confidence in the president – a reversal of the pattern at the end of the Obama administration. Still, the share of people who have confidence in Trump has edged higher in recent years.
3 Young people tend to have more positive opinions of the U.S. In most countries surveyed, young people are more likely than their older counterparts to have a favorable view of the U.S. For example, 57% of Russians ages 18 to 29 see the U.S. favorably, compared with only 15% of Russians ages 50 and older. However, in many countries those who are older also tend to be less likely to answer the question.
This pattern has been consistent over time in Pew Research Center polling. It is also true when it comes to attitudes toward China, the United Nations and the European Union.
4 Confidence in Trump is relatively low across the world, but there are pockets of support. Most Europeans and Latin Americans have little confidence in the U.S. president to do the right thing regarding world affairs. This includes only 13% of adults in Germany and 8% in Mexico.
However, Filipinos and Israelis are especially keen on the U.S. president, with 77% and 71% of adults, respectively, expressing confidence in Trump. And about half or more in Kenya, Nigeria, India and Poland have confidence in the U.S. leader.
5 In key EU countries, people express little confidence in Trump. Views of U.S. presidents have changed dramatically since Pew Research Center began asking about this nearly 20 years ago. In Germany, the UK, France and Spain, attitudes toward the U.S. president moved downward during the George W. Bush era, surged in the Obama era and fell again with the election of Trump. And despite a small rebound in support for the U.S. president in the past year, especially in Spain and France, Trump is still much less popular in these EU nations than Obama was during any part of his tenure.
6 Support for Trump has increased among those on the ideological right. Since 2018, there has been an increase in confidence in Trump among people on the ideological right, mostly in European countries. For example, since 2018, confidence in the U.S. president has increased 22 percentage points among those who place themselves on the right end of the ideological spectrum in Hungary and Spain. However, even among people on the ideological right, support for Trump rarely rises above 50%.
7 Fewer people express confidence in Trump than in other world leaders. Of the five world leaders asked about in the survey, German Chancellor Angela Merkel gets the most positive rating, with a median of 46% expressing confidence in her handling of world affairs. Only around three-in-ten express confidence in Trump (29%) – similar to the share who voice confidence in Chinese President Xi Jinping (28%). However, the share of people who express no confidence in Trump is higher (64%) than it is for all of the other world leaders asked about.
8Trump’s key foreign policies are unpopular. When asked in the spring and summer of 2019 about six of Trump’s key foreign policies, people around the world largely expressed disapproval. They are especially critical of his tariff policy and the withdrawal from climate change agreements such as the Paris Agreement.
Trump’s immigration policies, including his well-known plans to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, are also unpopular, with a few exceptions in Central and Eastern Europe and Israel. People also see Trump’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear weapons agreement negatively but are more positive about his negotiations with Kim Jong Un over North Korea’s nuclear weapons program. (The survey was conducted prior to the Jan. 3, 2020, U.S. missile strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.)
Across the six policies asked about in the survey, Israelis generally show the most approval, while those in Turkey are among the most skeptical.
9 Trump’s restrictions on immigration are more popular among those who support right-wing populist parties in Europe. When asked whether they approve of Trump’s policy to allow fewer immigrants in the U.S., people who support National Rally in France, Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Germany and Sweden Democrats in Sweden are at least 40 percentage points more likely than nonsupporters to express approval. This stark difference between populist supporters and non-populist supporters appears in many European countries and extends to opinions about Trump himself, as well as to his policy of building a wall between the U.S. and Mexico.
10 Views of the U.S. president are closely linked with attitudes toward the U.S. itself. Generally speaking, those with more trust in the U.S. president to do what is right in foreign affairs tend to view the U.S. more positively. For example, the two countries with the most confidence in Trump – Israel and the Philippines – are also among the most favorable toward the country he leads. Conversely, in Turkey and Mexico, low confidence in the U.S. president aligns with less positive views of the U.S. However, in almost every country surveyed, views toward the U.S. surpass confidence in the U.S. president, sometimes by wide margins.
Topics
Donald TrumpWorld LeadersU.S. Global Image
Jacob Poushter is an associate director focusing on global attitudes at Pew Research Center.
POSTSBIOEMAIL
FAQs
What is the public perception of Trump? ›
Approval ratings
At the end of Trump's second year, his two-year average Gallup approval rating was the lowest of any president since World War II. In January 2020, his Gallup rating reached 49%, the highest point since he took office, with 63% of those polled approving his handling of the economy.
Seven in ten (70%) are unfavourable towards him whilst 13% have a favourable opinion of the former President. 14% say they have neither a favourable nor unfavourable opinion of him.
How popular is Trump in Australia? ›Six in ten Australians (58%) say they have some or a lot of confidence in President Biden, an 11-point decrease from his inauguration year of 2021. This remains 28 points above the confidence expressed in former President Donald Trump in 2020 (30%).
Which president had a fear of public speaking? ›Some claimed that Jefferson changed the procedure because of his aversion to public speaking and nearly inaudible speaking voice. Jefferson himself stated that he did it for the convenience of Congress.
Which presidents had a fear of public speaking? ›Would it surprise you to know that Thomas Jefferson had a terrible fear of speaking in public? He did, and he was not alone.
What did Trump do with other countries? ›The Trump administration often used economic pressure to advance its foreign policy goals. Trump's import tariffs agitated trade partners and triggered a trade war with China. He also signed the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA), a continental trade agreement which replaced NAFTA.
Does Great Britain like the US? ›The United States has no closer ally than the United Kingdom, and British foreign policy emphasizes close coordination with the United States. Bilateral cooperation reflects the common language, ideals, and democratic practices of the two nations.
Is the UK as powerful as the USA? ›Researchers at European Geostrategy broke global powers down into four categories: Super Power, Global Power, Regional Power and Local Power. The United States took the top slot as the world's super power, while Britain took the only Global Power slot, bringing her in second behind America.
How many US citizens live in Australia? ›The number of Australians migrating to the United States is less than the number of Americans migrating to Australia. Between 200,000 and 300,000 US citizens live in Australia.
Is USA and Australia friends? ›Australia is a vital ally, partner, and friend of the United States. Our two countries maintain a robust relationship underpinned by shared democratic values, common interests, and cultural affinities. Economic, academic, and people-to-people ties are vibrant and strong.
Which countries Trump visited? ›
- One: Afghanistan, Argentina, Canada, China, Finland, India, Iraq, Israel, North Korea, the Philippines, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Vatican City, and the disputed West Bank.
- Two: Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Italy, South Korea, Switzerland, and Vietnam.
- Three: Japan and the United Kingdom.
- Four: France.
Coolidge was both the most negative and remote of Presidents, and the most accessible. He once explained to Bernard Baruch why he often sat silently through interviews: “Well, Baruch, many times I say only 'yes' or 'no' to people.
Who was the shy President? ›On Jan 11, 1926 Keller met President Calvin Coolidge. President Coolidge was a quiet and shy man. People called him "Silent Cal".
What presidents had anxiety? ›Woodrow Wilson
Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and the only president to have a Ph. D., Woodrow Wilson, lived with generalized anxiety disorder. His presidency was during a time of great historical importance, World War I, which helped cause his anxiety to skyrocket.
General findings. Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and George Washington are most often listed as the three highest-rated presidents among historians.
Who was the first President to swear? ›Beyond that, the Constitution says nothing about the Inaugural Ceremony. The first Inauguration of George Washington occurred on April 30, 1789, in front of New York's Federal Hall. Our nation's first President took the oath of office on a balcony overlooking Wall Street.
Who was the President who couldn't read? ›Andrew Johnson gives truth to the saying that in America, anyone can grow up to become President. Born in a log cabin in North Carolina to nearly illiterate parents, Andrew Johnson did not master the basics of reading, grammar, or math until he met his wife at the age of seventeen.
Who did Trump pardon? ›Congressmen. Trump issued pardons to seven Republican congressmen convicted of crimes: Chris Collins, Duncan D. Hunter, Steve Stockman, Rick Renzi, Robin Hayes, Mark Siljander, and Randall "Duke" Cunningham.
What can the President make with other countries? ›The United States Constitution provides that the president "shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two-thirds of the Senators present concur" (Article II, section 2). Treaties are binding agreements between nations and become part of international law.
What were Donald Trump's domestic policies? ›Donald Trump's domestic priorities largely reflected the themes he campaigned on: restricting immigration, strengthening public infrastructure, reducing taxes, and repealing the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare). His success in implementing that agenda was mixed.
Is USA more developed than UK? ›
A new system tell us the answer — economically, at least
America is rich. Per person, the US economy produces significantly more than most European economies do. One could simply compare GDP per capita figures to show this, but there's another, more interesting, method.
From the Entente Cordiale in 1911, to a series of increasingly deep bilateral relations throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, Britain's closest European ally has been – and will remain – France.
When did America become more powerful than Britain? ›They amount together to a new history of the 20th century: the American century, which according to Tooze began not in 1945 but in 1916, the year U.S. output overtook that of the entire British empire.
What is the strongest country? ›United States. The United States of America is a North American nation that is the world's most dominant economic and military power.
Is America the strongest in the world? ›United States of America The United States is the world's most powerful country, with a dominant military, economic strength, and cultural influence.
How many Americans live in Mexico? ›The number of permits issued to American citizens in 2022 was the highest since 2013, when the total number of US nationals living in Mexico reached 20,374. After that, there was a constant annual decrease in the number of residents until 2021, when there was an uptick again.
How many Mexicans live in Australia? ›Persons from El Salvador however have different settlement patterns - only 18% were residing in Sydney, while 32% were in Melbourne and 21% were in Brisbane. As of 2019, there are approximately 7,420 Mexican-born people living in Australia.
How much money do I need to move to America? ›Despite its popularity, for many, becoming a U.S. permanent resident or a citizen is a long and costly process. If we sum up all the specific payments towards acquiring citizenship in the USA, the total ranges from $4,000 to $11,300. However, most people end up spending between $6,000 and $8,000.
Which countries are US friends? ›The United States has formal diplomatic relations with most nations. This includes all United Nations members and observer states other than Bhutan, Iran, North Korea and Syria, and the UN observer State of Palestine, the last of which the U.S. does not recognize.
Is it safer to live in Australia or America? ›The crime rate in Australia is much lower than in the United States of America. As Australia ranks 47th while the USA ranks on 30th according to their crime rates. It is so rare for police officers to carry guns due to the low crime rate.
Is Japan a US ally? ›
Political Relationship:
Japan and the United States are strong allies sharing fundamental values and strategic interests, with the Japan-U.S. Security Arrangements at the core.
Central American nation Belize, the Dominican Republic or Bolivia haven't been on the itinerary of a U.S. head of state yet and some other places, like Suriname, only made it onto the list of the Department of State Office of the Historian because the Air Force One needed a quick refueling stop.
Has a president visited all 50 states? ›Only Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush also visited all 50 states while in office.
What countries have US presidents visited the most? ›...
| Country | Canada* |
|---|---|
| Calvin Coolidge | - |
| Franklin D. Roosevelt | 9 |
| Harry S. Truman | 1 |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower | 3 |
Public approval
He finished with a Gallup poll approval rating of 65%, higher than that of every other departing president measured since Harry Truman. As he was leaving office, a CNN/USA TODAY/Gallup poll revealed 45% said they'd miss him.
Going public represents a new style of presidential leadership in which the president sells his programs directly to the American public. Several scholars have argued that presidents need to go to the public more often and make skillful use of public rhetoric to galvanize public support for their policy agenda.
What is public opinion in us? ›Public opinion is the collective opinion on a specific topic or voting intention relevant to society. It is the people's views on matters affecting them.
Is Donald Trump outspoken? ›As chairman of The Trump Organization, his net worth is estimated at more than $4 billion. Trump's outspoken personality caused controversy and even protests at his presidential rallies, but he never let them slow him down.
What was Reagan's approval rating? ›After becoming president on January 20, 1981, Reagan survived an assassination attempt. CBS News launched their opinion polls with their first one showing 67% of Americans approving the president's job performance. Similarly, an ABC News poll showed Reagan's highest approval rating at 73%.
What are Bill Clinton's political beliefs? ›He has remained active in Democratic Party politics, campaigning for his wife's 2008 and 2016 presidential campaigns.
What global conflict was going on during Bill Clinton? ›
The major trouble spots during his two terms were in Africa (Somalia and Rwanda) and Eastern Europe (Bosnia, Herzegovina, and Kosovo in the former Yugoslavia). Clinton also tried to resolve long-running conflicts in Northern Ireland, and the Middle East, particularly the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.
When a company goes public who gets the money? ›When a company goes public, the company initially gets all of the money raised through the IPO. When the shares trade on a stock exchange after the IPO, the company does not get any of that money. That is money that is exchanged between investors through the buying and selling of shares on the exchange.
What are the benefits of going public? ›- Raising Capital. ...
- Gaining Higher Share Valuation. ...
- Funding for M&A Transactions. ...
- Reducing Corporate Debt. ...
- Maintaining Corporate Identity and Becoming Better Known. ...
- Attracting and Retaining Employees. ...
- Time Commitment. ...
- Distraction from Business and Missed Opportunities.
The Benefits of Going Public
The benefits can be tremendous. They include but are not limited to: The company can raise a lot of cash and FAST. As FindLaw writes, “New capital is raised without the associated risks, restrictions, and costs of debt or the constraints of venture capitalists.”
Public Opinion is a book by Walter Lippmann published in 1922. It is a critical assessment of functional democratic government, especially of the irrational and often self-serving social perceptions that influence individual behavior and prevent optimal societal cohesion.
Where do opinions come from? ›In casual use, the term opinion may be the result of a person's perspective, understanding, particular feelings, beliefs, and desires. Though not hard fact, collective opinions or professional opinions are defined as meeting a higher standard to substantiate the opinion.
What is political opinion? ›Public opinion or Political opinion is the aggregate of individual attitudes or beliefs held by the adult population. Public opinion can also be defined as the complex collection of opinions of many different people and the sum of all their views.
Who was the best president? ›Abraham Lincoln is mostly regarded as the greatest president for his leadership during the Civil War and the abolition of slavery. His main contender is Franklin D. Roosevelt, for leading the country out of the Great Depression and during World War II.
How many failures has Trump had? ›The six bankruptcies were the result of over-leveraged hotel and casino businesses in Atlantic City and New York: Trump Taj Mahal (1991), Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino (1992), Plaza Hotel (1992), Trump Castle Hotel and Casino (1992), Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts (2004), and Trump Entertainment Resorts (2009).
What is Donald Trump's net worth? ›