International perception of President Trump presents a mixed bag. An array of recent polls indicates that while many view him as a strong leader, trust in his capability and involvement in global affairs is lacking.
A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center revealed that 67% of respondents from 24 countries consider Trump a “strong leader.” However, only 28% see him as “honest,” and a considerable 65% see him as “dangerous.”
Interestingly, a large number—around 80%—described the former reality TV star and businessman as “arrogant.”
The survey included opinions from countries such as Canada, France, Germany, Greece, and Japan, among others.
More than 60% of adults in these nations expressed they had “little confidence” in Trump’s ability to manage key issues, including U.S. immigration, the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, relations with China, and climate change policies.
Since his return to the White House earlier this year, Trump has enacted strict immigration measures and has sought to mediate peace in the Ukraine-Russia conflict. His administration has also taken steps to address trade with China, leading to increased tariffs, although some tensions have recently eased. Additionally, he rolled back initiatives aimed at combating climate change that were set forth by former President Biden.
A majority of U.S. NATO allies surveyed were uncertain regarding Trump’s handling of the war in Ukraine, while opinions varied among countries, with Hungary showing more confidence in his approach.
In Japan and South Korea, over 60% expressed skepticism about his strategies concerning China.
The polls indicated a decline in the U.S. image in 15 countries since the last survey, with significant drops in perceptions from Canada, Mexico, Sweden, and Poland—over 20 percentage points in some cases.
Conversely, countries like Israel and Nigeria rated the U.S. more favorably compared to the previous year, though there wasn’t a notable shift in views in six other countries.
Lastly, the survey identified a pronounced gender gap in perceptions of Trump; women in 17 countries were generally more optimistic about his global leadership than men.
The Pew Poll was conducted between January 8 and April 26, involving around 28,333 individuals from the 24 countries surveyed. The average margin of error was about 4 percentage points.
