A recent Ipsos Global Advisor poll reveals a significant drop in the percentage of people in 29 countries who view the United States' influence on global affairs positively. The decline is particularly sharp in Europe, with Italy seeing a drop from 68% in 2015 to 39% currently. This decrease is largely attributed to the Trump presidency; under Biden, the positive perception was higher.
The United States' decline in global standing is not unique to Europe. Similar decreases are seen across the globe, including in countries like Canada and the Netherlands. Meanwhile, the perception of positive global influence has decreased even among US citizens.
Countries such as Canada, Germany, and the European Union currently rank higher than the US in the positive global influence category. Notably, the perception of China's positive influence has increased, surpassing that of the US.
China's positive global perception has remained relatively stable (dropping only 2 percentage points since 2015), while the US's positive rating has substantially declined since the Trump administration. This shift highlights a potential change in global leadership and underscores the role of leadership image and communication in shaping international perceptions.
The authors attribute the decline in US global standing to the communication and policies of the Trump administration, suggesting a decline in generating global consent and an imbalance in power exercise.