⏎ Words Summary from News
**Global confidence in U.S. President Donald Trump has cratered to just 23%, with two-thirds of adults across 36 nations expressing little or no trust in his leadership.** The Pew Research Center survey of 42,151 adults, conducted from February to May 2026, found confidence dropped in 16 of 24 countries with trend data, with no nation showing improvement. Favourability toward the United States itself also fell sharply, with only 37% holding a positive view—down by double digits in key allies like Indonesia, Italy, South Korea, and Turkey.</p><p class="summary-lead">**Perceptions of America as a reliable partner have eroded dramatically, even among its closest allies.** In Canada, the share viewing the U.S. as dependable plunged from 83% in 2022 to just 35% in 2026. Similar collapses occurred in Australia, Japan, and Singapore, where the belief that the U.S. contributes to global peace and stability dropped by 30 points or more since 2023. Only the Philippines stood out as a clear exception, with 77% affirming U.S. contributions to peace.</p><p class="summary-lead">**Trump’s strongest support is concentrated in a handful of countries, including the Philippines, Israel, Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana.** In Nigeria, confidence split sharply along religious lines: 87% among Christians versus 33% among Muslims. At the other extreme, trust in Trump fell to single digits in Turkey and among Palestinians. Ideologically, right-leaning respondents in 18 of 27 countries were more likely to express confidence, though support has declined even among many of these groups since last year.</p><p class="summary-lead">**Widespread disapproval extends to Trump’s handling of major international issues, with 74% opposing his approach on Iran.** Majorities also rejected his policies on tariffs, the Russia-Ukraine war, and Gaza, though Israel was a notable exception with 73% approval on Iran. Compared to predecessors, Trump’s ratings in France, Germany, Spain, and Britain remain low—similar to George W. Bush at the end of his presidency, but far below Barack Obama’s consistently higher marks.</p><p class="summary-lead">**What to watch next:** Whether the erosion of trust in U.S. leadership accelerates further amid ongoing geopolitical tensions with China and the Iran conflict, and if allies begin to pivot their strategic partnerships accordingly.
Key Takeaways
- Global trust in Trump stands at just 23%, with no country showing improvement and steep declines among key allies like Canada and Australia.
- Favourability toward the United States has dropped to 37%, with double-digit falls in Indonesia, Italy, South Korea, and Turkey.
- Trump’s strongest support is limited to a few nations—Philippines, Israel, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana—while trust is in single digits in Turkey and among Palestinians.
- Majorities disapprove of Trump’s handling of Iran, tariffs, Russia-Ukraine, and Gaza, with only Israel bucking the trend on Iran policy.
Insights & Analysis
- The sharp decline in trust among traditional allies like Canada and Australia signals a structural shift in transatlantic and Indo-Pacific relationships, potentially accelerating moves toward strategic autonomy or closer ties with China.
- The ideological split in support—right-wing populists backing Trump despite overall declines—suggests that U.S. soft power is becoming increasingly polarized along domestic political lines, weakening its universal appeal as a democratic model.