Washington, D.C.: Confidence in U.S. President Donald Trump to handle international affairs has declined significantly across much of the world, according to a new survey released by the Pew Research Center. The report indicates that a majority of respondents in several countries have little confidence in Trump’s ability to manage global challenges, while in India, more respondents expressed confidence in Russian President Vladimir Putin than in Trump.
The survey found that 76% of respondents globally said they lack confidence in Trump when it comes to handling international affairs, while only 23% expressed confidence in his leadership on global issues. Pew noted that Trump’s approval ratings have fallen in 16 of the 24 countries where comparable data was available, with no country recording a significant improvement in his ratings.
In India, the survey showed that 51% of respondents expressed confidence in Vladimir Putin, while 39% said they had confidence in Donald Trump. Another 36% said they had little or no confidence in Trump’s leadership. Analysts suggest that debates surrounding U.S. tariff policies and Washington’s approach to international conflicts, including Iran and Venezuela, may have influenced public opinion.
Across Europe, Trump’s ratings were particularly low in countries such as France, Germany, and Greece. In Germany, only 16% of respondents expressed confidence in Trump, while 15% said they trusted Putin. By comparison, French President Emmanuel Macron received significantly higher confidence ratings among German respondents.
The survey also highlighted varying perceptions across different regions. In the West Bank and East Jerusalem, only 4% of Palestinian respondents expressed confidence in Trump. Meanwhile, Israel remained one of the strongest supporters of the U.S. president, with 66% approving of his leadership and 81% expressing a favorable view of the United States.
On Trump’s economic policies, particularly tariffs, international support remained limited. Approval for his tariff strategy stood at 27% in the United Kingdom, 15% in Japan, 14% in South Korea, 11% in Mexico, and 8% in Germany. Kenya was the only country surveyed where a majority (55%) supported Trump’s approach to tariffs.
The Pew Research Center conducted the survey between February 8 and May 13, 2026, covering 42,151 respondents across 36 countries. The Washington-based, nonpartisan research organization regularly conducts global public opinion studies on international politics, economics, and social issues.
The findings underscore the growing divergence in global perceptions of world leaders and suggest that international confidence in U.S. leadership continues to face significant challenges amid ongoing geopolitical and economic tensions.
