This was revealed in a new survey conducted by the Pew Research Center across nearly two dozen countries. Released on Tuesday, the survey shows that the gap in global perceptions between the two superpowers and their leaders is shrinking compared to 2020. During Joe Biden’s presidency, there was a significant difference in how the world viewed him and Chinese President Xi Jinping. But with Trump returning to power—especially due to issues like tariffs—America’s global image is steadily declining.
Trust in the U.S. Is Eroding in Many Countries
In its survey across 24 countries, Pew found that only eight countries viewed the U.S. positively. In contrast, seven countries saw China as a better partner, and two countries rated both nations equally. While the survey did not specifically state the reasons behind the shift in perception, Laura Silver, Associate Director at Pew Research, said many nations now see the U.S. as a less reliable partner, and global trust in America has declined.
Although China has been criticized globally for its human rights policies and handling of the pandemic, its international image is improving.
Even Democrats Agree: Trump Is Hurting America’s Global Image
A group of Democratic senators in the U.S. accused the Trump administration this week of severely damaging America’s global influence. They cited the shutdown of foreign aid programs, the imposition of tariffs on allies, visa restrictions on international students, and crackdowns on prestigious universities as factors behind this decline. The Pew survey appears to confirm these concerns.
The survey revealed that in ten high-income countries—like Canada, France, Germany, and Italy—only 35% of people now have a positive view of the U.S., a sharp drop from 51% last year.
Rising Discontent Toward the U.S., Even in Wealthy Nations
Even in affluent Western countries that were once close U.S. allies, China is gaining acceptance. Now, 32% of people in rich nations view China positively, up from 23% the previous year.
People in Israel still hold a largely positive view of the U.S., with 83% expressing favorable opinions. However, 33% of Israelis also have a positive perception of China. Among them, 69% like Trump, while only 9% have a favorable view of Xi Jinping.
The Pew Research Center conducted this survey between January 8 and April 26, covering over 30,000 people across 25 countries. The margin of error for each country ranged from ±2.5 to ±4.7 percentage points.
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