European public perceptions of the United States have experienced a significant decline following President Donald Trump’s reelection. Recent polling reveals concerns anchored in various issues, including Trump’s commitment to democracy, shifts in U.S. foreign policy regarding the Russia-Ukraine War, and economic sanctions imposed by the United States. Many Europeans now view Trump’s America as a potential threat to global peace.
The focus of the media has largely been on Trump’s aggressive tariff strategies, but his administration has also taken substantial steps to extricate the U.S. from multilateral commitments. Since taking office, Trump has withdrawn from several key international organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), and the Paris Climate Agreement, among others. There is a growing fear among Europeans that Trump desires to distance the United States from NATO, the International Criminal Court (ICC), and various other international alliances.
A survey conducted by YouGov from February 5 to February 18, 2025, underscores this decline in favorability. Across seven European countries—Great Britain, France, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Spain, and Italy—the favorable view of the U.S. plummeted by approximately 8 percentage points since November 2024. The decline is notably steep in northern Europe, particularly in Denmark, where favorability has dropped 20 percentage points, and in Sweden, which saw a 12-point decrease.
The rising discontent towards the U.S. correlates closely with the negative sentiments directed at President Trump himself. A subsequent YouGov survey collected between February 25 and March 4, 2025, reveals that 58% of the citizens from Britain, France, Italy, and Spain harbor very unfavorable views of Trump, while an additional 16% view him somewhat unfavorably. Only about 19% maintain a favorable impression of him.
Confidence in Trump among Europeans remains alarmingly low. According to a joint survey by Le Grand Continent and Cluster 17 conducted in March 2025, Trump received an average trust score of just 2.6 on a scale of 0 to 10, marking the second-lowest rating out of 14 international leaders assessed. The only leader rated lower was Vladimir Putin, who scored an average of 1.5. This lack of confidence is more than a mere aesthetic grievance; a plurality of respondents (43%) believes that Trump’s actions will adversely affect their own countries.
The sentiment that Trump poses a threat to peace is widespread. In the YouGov survey, 73% of Europeans characterized Trump as a threat to peace and security in Europe, closely trailing Putin, who received 82%. Additionally, nearly half of the participants (51%) regard Trump as an enemy of Europe, while about 63% believe that his presidency contributes to a less secure world. This sense of jeopardy showcases dwindling faith in U.S. multilateral alliances, as 70% of respondents agree that the European Union (EU) would need to depend on its own resources for security.
The reelection of Trump has evoked perceptions of a retreat from democratic values in the United States. When asked for their views on Trump, a plurality of 43% believe he exhibits authoritarian tendencies, and 39% see him as an outright dictator. In stark contrast, only 13% of Europeans feel that Trump respects democratic principles.
In terms of economic relations, Trump’s administration appears to have embraced a more protectionist stance that has drawn criticism from the EU. March 2025 saw the U.S. suspend its financial contributions to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Escalations intensified on April 2 when Trump’s administration enacted universal tariffs and a
image source from：globalaffairs
