Trump Hit by Humiliating Poll as Trust in the U.S. Plummets

Key Points:

• European trust in the United States has dropped to historic lows, with only 11% of respondents across 15 countries viewing the U.S. as an ally, down from 22% six months earlier, a decline linked to President Trump's foreign policy actions.
• Factors contributing to this decline include Trump's military actions in the Middle East, threats against Greenland, plans to withdraw troops from Europe, and skepticism about NATO's future, prompting Europeans to consider reducing dependence on the U.S. for defense.
• The survey showed increased European support for higher national defense spending and collective EU borrowing for defense, alongside a strong preference for purchasing European military hardware rather than relying on U.S. equipment.
• Despite the anti-American sentiment, only 29% support replacing NATO with an EU-only defense force, and majorities in many countries believe U.S.-European relations will improve after Trump leaves office.
• European public opinion remains divided on other issues, including Ukraine’s EU membership and the resumption of Russian oil and gas imports, with significant opposition persisting despite rising energy costs.