From ‘Hottest Country’ To Hard Truth: Trump’s Global Approval Declines In Pew Survey
From ‘Hottest Country’ To Hard Truth: Trump’s Global Approval Declines In Pew Survey Published By, Last Updated: June 25, 2026, 09:11 IST Across 36 nations
From ‘Hottest Country’ To Hard Truth: Trump’s Global Approval Declines In Pew Survey Published By, Last Updated: June 25, 2026, 09:11 IST Across 36 nations, the MAGA supremo receives poor marks on nearly every foreign policy issue tested, including Iran, where a median of 74% disapprove of his handling. Rapid Read US President Donald Trump speaks before signing a proclamation in the Oval Office of the White House. (AFP photo) Time and again, US President and MAGA boss Donald Trump has claimed that foreign leaders have assured him that “we’re the hottest country anywhere in the world" and the US was dead before he saved it. It is the global equivalent of the hottest nightclub in town, a place where everyone wants to get in, everyone wants to invest, and everyone, presumably, wants a selfie. It is also, according to a sweeping new survey released Tuesday, comically disconnected from how the world actually feels about Trump himself. The 2026 Global Attitudes Survey by the Pew Research Centre, which has been tracking global opinion of America for over two decades, shows a sharply negative view of Trump, with a median of just 23% of adults expressing confidence in his leadership of world affairs.
Across 36 nations, the MAGA supremo receives poor marks on nearly every foreign policy issue tested, including Iran, where a median of 74% disapprove of his handling. Tariff policies under Trump are also widely disliked. Sentiment is particularly negative in countries with deep trade ties to the US, including the U.K. (27% approve), India (18%), Canada (17%), Japan (15%), South Korea (14%), Mexico (11%), and Germany (8%). Israel stands out as the exception, with the US receiving its highest rating there at 81% favorable. Several African nations also continue to view the US positively, even as Washington shows limited interest in the region. In India, however, confidence in the US President has slipped from 51% in 2025 to 39% in 2026. The decline is even more pronounced in Canada, where confidence in the US has dropped sharply. From 83% during the Biden era, it has fallen to 35% today, marking a steep erosion in trust for America’s closest neighbour and largest trading partner. Across Europe, sentiment has turned notably hostile. In France, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands and Italy, roughly three-quarters or more now express negative views.
Germany has fallen from 83% to 39%, while Sweden has dropped from 83% to 31%, underscoring what many see as a deep diplomatic strain. These shifts were visible even at recent international forums, including the G-7, where tensions were apparent. The global disapproval would be easier to dismiss, given Trump’s longstanding indifference to foreign public opinion and reliance on personal flattery, if domestic sentiment did not mirror a similar decline. Within the US, polling shows parallel weakness. As of this week, Trump’s net approval in Nate Silver’s polling average stands at -18.9, worse than at this stage of his first term. One pollster places his approval at just 30%, an all-time low in their series, with only 26% approving of his handling of the economy, while 70% disapprove. Aggregated national polling now puts his approval below 40%, with disapproval nearing 60%. Across policy areas, ratings remain consistently negative, with few or no areas of strength. Taken together, Trump is effectively running two contrasting narratives. One describes an America that is the world’s most sought-after destination for deals, investment, and influence. The other is reflected in global surveys, where confidence in US leadership has weakened and trust among allies has eroded.
The BriefWire