BRUSSELS — Global confidence in United States leadership has declined sharply, with China now viewed more favorably than the U.S. for the first time in almost two decades, according to a Gallup annual world poll released in April 2026. The poll surveyed more than 130 countries.
European leaders at the 2026 Munich Security Conference openly questioned the reliability of the United States as the anchor of the Western alliance. Gérard Araud, former French ambassador, said the United States has become an unreliable ally. Carl Bildt, former Prime Minister of Sweden, described President Donald Trump's foreign policy as damaging the postwar international order.
A senior European diplomat said the Trump administration poses the "greatest threat to transatlantic stability in decades," according to reports. European Council President António Costa warned that Europe must safeguard itself from allies who challenge its interests.
President Trump disputed these characterizations. "A year ago, our country was an embarrassment and all over the world they laughed at us and they don't laugh anymore," he said.
A March 2026 Politico European Pulse survey across six major European Union nations found that only 12 percent of respondents still considered the United States a close ally. Thirty-six percent viewed the United States as a threat, compared with 29 percent who identified China as a threat.
A Spring 2025 Pew Research Center survey spanning 24 countries found that only 34 percent of respondents expressed confidence in Trump's ability to handle world affairs effectively. Sixty-two percent reported a lack of confidence in his leadership.
The Pew survey also found widespread negative perceptions of Trump's character. Eighty percent of respondents described him as arrogant, and 65 percent characterized him as dangerous. Only 28 percent described him as honest.
