Global survey: US image plummets under Trump administration
The image of the USA in the world has significantly deteriorated. Under Donald Trump's administration, the United States is now seen on par with Russia and fares much worse than China, according to a global survey by the Anders Fogh Rasmussen Foundation.
What you need to know
- Democracy Perception Index: The survey was conducted in 100 countries, including Poland, revealing a decline in the positive image of the USA from 76% to 45%.
- Leaders Assessment: U.S. President Donald Trump is viewed negatively in 82% of countries, which is a worse result compared to Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping.
- Defense priorities: In 86 countries, the most important action is strengthening international partnerships, while in Ukraine, the priority is developing nuclear weapons.
How has the image of the USA changed?
According to the survey published by the Anders Fogh Rasmussen Foundation, the image of the United States has significantly worsened by 2025. The democracy perception index shows that the USA is perceived negatively at minus 5%, a significant drop compared to plus 22% in 2024.
The USA's image is now comparable to Russia, which scores minus 9%, and significantly worse than China, which achieved plus 14%.
Trump rated worse than Putin and Xi
President Donald Trump is viewed negatively in 82% of the countries surveyed, which is significantly worse than the ratings for Russian President Vladimir Putin (61%) and Chinese leader Xi Jinping (44%).
The study highlighted that 85% of countries support adhering to international laws and agreements, even if it limits their freedom of action.
What are the global defense priorities?
In 86 out of 100 surveyed countries, the most crucial defense activity is strengthening international partnerships. In Ukraine, the majority believes that developing nuclear weapons as a deterrent is a priority.
Poland and China are among the few countries that consider increasing investments in military capabilities more important than strengthening international alliances.
The survey indicates that worldwide, the readiness for personal defense of the country against attacks is much higher in authoritarian countries than in democracies. In Europe, the will to fight varies greatly, with high rates in Norway, Greece, and Sweden, but low in Moldova, France, Belgium, and Italy. The continent is also divided on defense spending.
A significant majority of those surveyed in Ukraine, Poland, Norway, Georgia, Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the UK support higher such investments. In contrast, the majority in Italy, France, Greece, Austria, and Belgium holds the opposite view. In Germany, there is no clear majority on either side.
Authors of the study are not surprised
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who leads the Alliance of Democracies Foundation, responded to the survey findings by saying the significant drop in favorable views of the United States was expected. He also noted that global backing for a rules-based international system remains strong, which he finds reassuring. However, he voiced unease about the differing opinions within Europe on military spending and the willingness of citizens to defend their nations.
Fogh Rasmussen emphasized the urgency of current security challenges, stressing that governments need to persuade their citizens of the importance of investing in defense now to safeguard future freedom and peace.
