Global Trust in the US Collapses Under Trump

Global public perception of the United States has experienced a steep decline following policy shifts enacted by President Donald Trump since returning to office in January 2025, according to data published by the Pew Research Center. Majorities or pluralities in numerous countries surveyed between February 8 and May 13, 2025, now hold a more favorable view of China than of the United States, reversing a decades-long historical trend.

Global Popularity Shift Recorded in Pew Research Data

According to the Pew Research Center survey of individuals across 36 countries, 46 percent of respondents now hold a favorable view of China, compared to 36 percent who view the United States favorably. Three years prior, those figures stood at 32 percent for China and 58 percent for the United States, marking a major transformation in international public opinion.

The survey results show that just six countries—Israel, Japan, India, South Korea, the Philippines, and Poland—currently maintain a more favorable view of the U.S. than of China. In Sweden, for instance, public approval of the United States dropped from 55 percent in 2023 under former President Joe Biden to 19 percent in the recent survey, while favorable views of China rose to 27 percent. In contrast, Pew Research Center data indicates that when Trump took office, more people held a positive view of the U.S. than of China in 36 nations.

Policy Drivers Behind International Strains

According to Ross Baker, a professor of political science at Rutgers University, the global drop in soft power stems directly from concrete policy actions taken by the administration. Baker points to the dismantling of large portions of USAID, the implementation of worldwide tariff measures, threats directed at Canada and Greenland, and military actions against Iran undertaken without consulting foreign allies.

– Trump har i praksis forlatt Nato. Han har forkastet vår mest effektive soft power, som var bruken av bistand til fattige land. Oppførselen hans mot andre utenlandske ledere er så brutal. Og nå er Trump ansiktet til USA utad, sier Baker.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen, former Danish Prime Minister, former NATO Secretary General, and founder of the Alliance of Democracies foundation, echoed these observations regarding a separate poll published in May 2025. The democracy perception index, conducted among respondents across numerous countries, placed global views of the U.S. behind those of Russia for the second year. Fogh Rasmussen told Reuters that American foreign policy over the preceding 18 months had questioned the transatlantic partnership, instituted broad tariffs, and threatened the territorial integrity of a NATO ally.

Comparative Perspectives on U.S. and Chinese Influence

China specialists attribute the shift not solely to rising Chinese appeal, but primarily to a contraction in Washington’s diplomatic standing. Yanzhong Huang, a China expert at the Council on Foreign Relations, noted that for nearly two decades, favorable global sentiment toward the U.S. over China remained a constant in Pew Research metrics. That era has ended.

– Etter årevis med latterliggjøring for klønete propaganda, har Beijings softpower-portefølje endelig produsert noen fulltreffere. Kulturelt har «chinamaxxing»-fenomenet – en viral trend i sosiale medier hvor vestlig ungdom omfavner kinesiske livsstiler – gitt Kina en organisk prestisje som Japan og Sør-Korea lenge har hatt, forklarer Yanzhong.

Official Response from the White House

President Trump maintains a fundamentally different perspective on the nation’s global standing. During celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the United States earlier in the summer of 2025, Trump asserted that the country had recovered from what he termed a “total katastrofe” under the previous administration.

– Vi er ikke en vits lengre. Vi er det mektigste landet i verden, sa Trump.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did the Pew Research Center survey measure regarding the U.S. and China?

The survey measured public perception of the United States and China across respondents in 36 countries between February 8 and May 13, 2025.

How do current favorable ratings compare to past years?

In 2025, 46 percent of global respondents viewed China favorably compared to 36 percent for the U.S. Three years prior, the U.S. held a 58 percent favorable rating against 32 percent for China.

Which countries still hold a more favorable view of the U.S. than China?

According to the data, only six countries maintain a more positive view of the U.S. than of China: Israel, Japan, India, South Korea, the Philippines, and Poland.

What factors contributed to the decline in U.S. soft power?

Experts point to actions including the reduction of USAID operations, the imposition of global tariffs, strains on NATO relationships, and unilateral military actions in the Middle East.