CN Survey Reveals: Worldwide Skepticism Toward U.S. Leadership Following First 100 Days
After 100 days in office, U.S. President Donald Trump's "America First" agenda is facing significant challenges.
TroibNews 
After 100 days in office, U.S. President Donald Trump and his "America First" agenda are facing significant challenges.
In February and April of this year, CN carried out two global opinion polls that involved 15,947 respondents from 38 countries. The findings indicate a sharp decline in American respondents' satisfaction with Trump's performance. The "America First" foreign policy strategy has left individuals from both traditional U.S. allies and Global South nations feeling pessimistic about their future relations with the United States. The new administration is grappling with a considerable global trust crisis.
Data reveals that 48.9 percent of American respondents are dissatisfied with the new administration's performance. Among these, 53.1 percent criticized the "reciprocal tariffs" policy, citing its adverse effects on the U.S. stock market. Additionally, 60.4 percent believe that the domestic economic policies have not only failed to curb inflation but have also contributed to rising prices, while 54 percent have significant concerns regarding its interest rate policy.
Analyzing American respondents’ perspectives on the short-term economy and national development, a larger proportion expresses pessimism compared to optimism; 43.1 percent feel the U.S. economy could deteriorate in the next three months, and 47.5 percent think the nation is headed in the "wrong direction." This pessimism is notably higher among Democratic respondents, with 62.3 percent deeply worried about the future of the country.
The "America First" approach has not come without costs, severely undermining the trust and confidence of traditional allies. Data indicates that respondents from several nations, including Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, and Australia, have expressed deep concern over their relations with the United States.
Among these nations, Australian respondents exhibited the most significant change, with 65.5 percent feeling pessimistic about U.S.-Australia relations, marking a sharp increase of 24.5 percentage points compared to the earlier poll. Likewise, 55 percent of Italian respondents conveyed pessimism about U.S.-Italy relations, an increase of 21.5 percentage points from the previous survey. Over 70 percent of respondents from France, Germany, Canada, Japan, and South Korea also reported a pessimistic outlook regarding their interactions with the U.S.
The general consensus is that the "America First" policy has caused the United States to further overlook its traditional allies. Eighty-seven percent of South Korean respondents voiced agreement with this perspective. In the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Australia, and Italy, more than 70 percent of those surveyed also concurred. The percentage of respondents holding this view in Italy and Germany rose significantly compared to the earlier poll, by 17 and 15 percentage points, respectively.
This decline in confidence is not limited to developed nations; those from the Global South are also experiencing diminished trust in their relations with the U.S. Among the 23 Global South countries surveyed, 19 countries—accounting for 82.6 percent—expressed pessimism about future relations with the United States.
Notably, respondents from South Africa, Egypt, Peru, Indonesia, and Malaysia indicated the most considerable drop in confidence, with decreases of over 20 percentage points. Additionally, confidence in future relations with the U.S. fell by more than 10 percentage points among respondents from Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Argentina, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Chile, Ghana, Mexico, and Thailand.
The surveys were conducted by CN in collaboration with Renmin University of China's Institute of International Communication in the New Era, and they encompassed 15,947 respondents across 38 countries, including both developed nations like the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Japan, and developing countries such as Mexico, South Africa, and Malaysia.
Sophie Wagner for TROIB News
In February and April of this year, CN carried out two global opinion polls that involved 15,947 respondents from 38 countries. The findings indicate a sharp decline in American respondents' satisfaction with Trump's performance. The "America First" foreign policy strategy has left individuals from both traditional U.S. allies and Global South nations feeling pessimistic about their future relations with the United States. The new administration is grappling with a considerable global trust crisis.
Data reveals that 48.9 percent of American respondents are dissatisfied with the new administration's performance. Among these, 53.1 percent criticized the "reciprocal tariffs" policy, citing its adverse effects on the U.S. stock market. Additionally, 60.4 percent believe that the domestic economic policies have not only failed to curb inflation but have also contributed to rising prices, while 54 percent have significant concerns regarding its interest rate policy.
Analyzing American respondents’ perspectives on the short-term economy and national development, a larger proportion expresses pessimism compared to optimism; 43.1 percent feel the U.S. economy could deteriorate in the next three months, and 47.5 percent think the nation is headed in the "wrong direction." This pessimism is notably higher among Democratic respondents, with 62.3 percent deeply worried about the future of the country.
The "America First" approach has not come without costs, severely undermining the trust and confidence of traditional allies. Data indicates that respondents from several nations, including Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, and Australia, have expressed deep concern over their relations with the United States.
Among these nations, Australian respondents exhibited the most significant change, with 65.5 percent feeling pessimistic about U.S.-Australia relations, marking a sharp increase of 24.5 percentage points compared to the earlier poll. Likewise, 55 percent of Italian respondents conveyed pessimism about U.S.-Italy relations, an increase of 21.5 percentage points from the previous survey. Over 70 percent of respondents from France, Germany, Canada, Japan, and South Korea also reported a pessimistic outlook regarding their interactions with the U.S.
The general consensus is that the "America First" policy has caused the United States to further overlook its traditional allies. Eighty-seven percent of South Korean respondents voiced agreement with this perspective. In the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Australia, and Italy, more than 70 percent of those surveyed also concurred. The percentage of respondents holding this view in Italy and Germany rose significantly compared to the earlier poll, by 17 and 15 percentage points, respectively.
This decline in confidence is not limited to developed nations; those from the Global South are also experiencing diminished trust in their relations with the U.S. Among the 23 Global South countries surveyed, 19 countries—accounting for 82.6 percent—expressed pessimism about future relations with the United States.
Notably, respondents from South Africa, Egypt, Peru, Indonesia, and Malaysia indicated the most considerable drop in confidence, with decreases of over 20 percentage points. Additionally, confidence in future relations with the U.S. fell by more than 10 percentage points among respondents from Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Argentina, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Chile, Ghana, Mexico, and Thailand.
The surveys were conducted by CN in collaboration with Renmin University of China's Institute of International Communication in the New Era, and they encompassed 15,947 respondents across 38 countries, including both developed nations like the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Japan, and developing countries such as Mexico, South Africa, and Malaysia.
Sophie Wagner for TROIB News
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