Why it matters:
Controversial domestic and foreign policy decisions have marked Trump's second term in office. Trump's policies have caused widespread diplomatic and economic tensions, from imposing heavy trade tariffs and suspending foreign aid to trying to rename the Gulf of Mexico and threatening allies.
He has escalated a global trade war, fueling public discontent and increasing economic costs. These approaches have created a clear gap with his campaign promises and have faced resistance at home and abroad.
The big picture:
A joint poll by China Global Television Network (CGTN), Renmin University, and the Institute of International Communication in the New Era surveyed 7,586 people from 38 countries on the Trump administration’s early performance.
The results indicate significant global dissatisfaction with Trump's actions, including withdrawing from key international organizations and escalating trade tensions.
Even respondents from G7 nations and within the U.S. expressed negative views on the administration’s policy direction.
What it is saying:
The survey found that 63.7% of global respondents believe the U.S. decision to withdraw from international institutions hurts global governance, rising to 66.7% among respondents from traditional U.S. allies.
"America First" was particularly criticized, with 63.3% believing it accelerates global economic instability.
58.4% stated that U.S. trade protectionism would hinder their own countries' economic development.
Among the most concerning U.S. trade policies, respondents ranked “restricting investment in foreign tech firms” (58.3%), “raising tariffs on foreign goods” (57.9%), and “reducing reliance on imports and global supply chains” (54.2%) as the top three.
Key points:
57% of respondents from six G7 nations (excluding the U.S.) were pessimistic about their countries' future relations with Washington.
German and Canadian respondents expressed the highest level of concern, with 66% expressing pessimism. They were followed by Japan (60%), the UK (59.3%), and France (57.5%).
Even within the U.S., public opinion was skeptical of Trump’s foreign policy, particularly regarding relations with Russia, China, Europe, Japan, South Korea, and West Asia.
China-U.S. relations stood out as a key concern. Only 40% of respondents believed Trump's policies would have a positive impact, 43% expected negative consequences, and 17% remained uncertain.
Go deeper:
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