US Allies' Confidence Crumbles: Poll Shows Trump's America Seen as a 'Negative Force'

Unreliable, a source of global problems, and a negative force on the world stage—this is the stark assessment of the United States held by large shares of its closest allies, according to a new international poll. The findings, from POLITICO-Public First polling, reveal the deep impact of President Donald Trump's sweeping foreign policy overhaul on transatlantic and North American relations.

A Transatlantic Trust Deficit in Numbers

The polling data paints a grim picture of America's standing. Pluralities in Germany and France, and a majority of Canadians, now say the U.S. is a negative force globally. In the United Kingdom, views are more mixed, but a significant 35% share that dim assessment.

Furthermore, near-majorities in all four allied nations believe the U.S. tends to create problems for other countries rather than solve them. When asked whether Washington supports or challenges its allies, a majority of Canadians and just under half of respondents in Germany and France say it challenges them. In the U.K., roughly 4 in 10 agree, while more than a third say the U.S. cannot be depended on in a crisis.

Allies Recalibrate Amid Trump's Doctrine

During his first year back in office, Trump has blurred traditional lines of global alliances. He recently described Europe as a “decaying” group of nations in a POLITICO interview, and his sweeping National Security Strategy argued the continent has lost its “national identities and self-confidence.” This skepticism from allied leaders is likely seeping into public sentiment, according to Matthew Kroenig of the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center.

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In response, allied nations are recalibrating their policies.

• Germany: Chancellor Friedrich Merz has secured a historic spending overhaul, unlocking hundreds of billions of euros for defense, driven by wavering U.S. support for Ukraine and questions over Washington's commitment to NATO.
• France: President Emmanuel Macron is using Trump's unpredictability to bolster arguments for greater European strategic autonomy, a long-held French ambition.
• United Kingdom: Prime Minister Keir Starmer is attempting a delicate balancing act—finalizing a U.K.-U.S. trade deal while coordinating a European response on Ukraine, all without angering the White House.
• Canada: Relations have seen the sharpest deterioration amid a punishing trade war. Flavio Volpe of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association noted, "People lost their jobs... and billions of dollars in Canadian capital evaporated."

A Nation Divided: American Perceptions of Its Global Role

In contrast to their allies, Americans view their own country more favorably. Overall, 51% see the U.S. as a positive force globally. However, these numbers mask a deep partisan divide.

According to Public First polling, almost half of voters who backed former Vice President Kamala Harris (47%) say the U.S. is a negative force, compared with just 13% of Trump voters. Conversely, three in fourTrump voters (77%) say the U.S. is a positive force.

This shift among Democrats is recent and dramatic. Polling from October of last year found strong majorities of both Democrats (71%) and Republicans (69%) viewing America's historical role positively. One year later, while the Republican figure remains high, the Democrat figure has plummeted to 58%. Seb Wride, head of polling at Public First, notes this means "around 1 in 8 Democrats changing their views on the role the U.S. has played in its entire history, in just one year."