Donald Trump is facing a significant image problem across Europe, according to a newly released international survey. The findings suggest that confidence in both the U.S. president and the United States has declined sharply in several key European countries over the past year.
The report was based on responses from more than 42,000 adults across 36 countries, and found that European attitudes toward Trump remain overwhelmingly negative in 2026. The data also points to growing skepticism about America’s role on the global stage.
Pew Research Center found that Europeans hold especially negative views of Donald Trump and the United States
The survey found that majorities in all 10 European nations polled said they lack confidence in Donald Trump “to do the right thing regarding world affairs.” In eight of those countries, roughly three-quarters or more of respondents expressed that view.
The numbers appear to have worsened since last year. According to the Pew Research Center, Trump’s confidence ratings dropped significantly in eight European countries, including declines of 15 percentage points in both Greece and Italy.
Even among supporters of right-wing populist parties, where Trump has historically performed better, enthusiasm appears to be cooling. In Italy, for example, confidence among people who view the Brothers of Italy party favorably fell from 49% in 2025 to 30% in 2026.
The survey also found widespread disapproval of Trump’s handling of several major international issues. A median of 85% across the 10 European countries surveyed disapproved of his approach to tariffs and Greenland. Respondents also gave poor marks on issues including the Russia-Ukraine war, the conflict in Gaza, and relations with Iran.
The findings extend beyond views of Trump himself. Favorability ratings for the United States declined in six of the 10 European countries surveyed. Sweden recorded the lowest favorable rating toward America at just 19%, while Hungary was the only nation where a majority of respondents, 58%, viewed the U.S. positively.
Perhaps most notably, many Europeans no longer see America as a reliable partner. In eight countries surveyed, the percentage of people who described the U.S. as reliable fell by between 28 and 52 percentage points compared with previous years. The report suggests that transatlantic tensions have returned to levels reminiscent of the early 2000s.
TELL US – ARE YOU SURPRISED BY THE PEW RESEARCH CENTER’S FINDINGS ON DONALD TRUMP’S POPULARITY IN EUROPE?
