Global survey finds low confidence in Trump and US

A new global survey shows international confidence in U.S. President Donald Trump remains low, with a median of just 23 percent of adults across 36 countries expressing trust in his leadership on world affairs. The findings, from a Pew Research Center poll of 42,151 people conducted from February 8 to May 13, 2026, also reveal a sharp decline in perceptions of the United States as a reliable partner among many of its closest allies.

The survey indicates Trump's confidence ratings are lower than those for several other world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Among the leaders polled, only Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received lower marks globally. Trump's strongest support comes from a distinct cluster of nations: the Philippines (68 percent), Israel (66 percent), Nigeria (65 percent), Kenya, and Ghana. Conversely, confidence collapses to single digits in places like Turkey (6 percent) and the Palestinian territories (4 percent).

Beyond personal ratings for the president, views of the United States itself are largely negative. A median of 37...