US Global Popularity Plummets After Trump Returns Amid China Rise

The United States has experienced a significant decline in global popularity following Donald Trump's return to the presidency, according to the 2025 Democracy Perception Index, which surveyed over 110,000 individuals in 100 countries. The U.S. approval rating dropped from a positive 27% in 2023 to -5% in 2025, with notably sharp declines in EU countries, where Trump's disparaging remarks about the bloc contributed to negative perceptions. China has surpassed the U.S. for the first time in global favorability, recording positive views in all regions except Europe, while Russia remains less popular but has seen a slight improvement since 2022. Trump himself received the lowest global approval among surveyed political, cultural, and spiritual leaders, being viewed negatively in 82 out of 100 countries, and scoring worse than counterparts Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. Anders Fogh Rasmussen, former NATO chief and coauthor of the index, expressed no surprise at the sharp fall in U.S. perception. Additionally, Israel was identified as having the worst global reputation, particularly in the Middle East and South Asia, due to ongoing conflicts and allegations of war crimes against its leaders.