One hundred days into U.S. President Donald Trump's second term, new CGTN polls reveal a stark decline in both American and global sentiment toward his leadership and "America First" trade agenda. Conducted in February and April this year, the surveys gathered insights from 15,947 respondents across 38 countries.
American Discontent Rises
Nearly half of American participants (48.9%) expressed dissatisfaction with Trump's performance. Over half (53.1%) blamed his reciprocal tariff policy for stock market woes, while 60.4% criticized his economic measures for fueling inflation and price hikes. Additionally, 54% voiced serious concerns about interest rate decisions.
Global Confidence Declines
Key U.S. allies showed deep unease about the future of their ties with Washington. In France, Germany, Canada, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, over 70% of respondents were pessimistic, with the sentiment peaking at 87% in the Republic of Korea. The UK, Germany, Canada, Australia, and Italy each saw more than 70% of citizens doubting the strength of their bilateral relationships.
Sentiment in Global South nations also fell sharply. Among 23 surveyed countries, 19 reported growing pessimism. South Africa, Egypt, Peru, Indonesia, and Malaysia recorded drops in optimism exceeding 20 percentage points.
Tariff Backlash Hits Worldwide
Global opposition to U.S. tariff measures surged to 74.2%, marking a 16.3-point rise in just two months. Saudi Arabia and Serbia saw the largest jumps, with negative views climbing 28.5 points. In Southeast Asia, countries like Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia—often labeled "hard-hit areas"—reported that 60.2% of respondents believe strengthened export controls and unilateral sanctions harm their development.
Furthermore, 69.4% opposed limits on foreign technology investment (up 14.3 points), and 61.5% viewed efforts to reduce dependence on foreign imports as detrimental (up 12.3 points).
Support for the Chinese Mainland's Countermeasures
The Chinese mainland's firm countermeasures against U.S. tariffs garnered broad backing. In 37 of 38 surveyed countries, majorities endorsed these actions. Developing nations showed especially strong support—countries including Kenya, Egypt, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Malaysia, the UAE, and South Africa reported rates above 70%, led by Kenya at 82.5%. Among developed economies, the UK led the G7 at 70.5%, followed by Canada (69.5%), Germany (66%), and France (65.5%).
The surveys were a joint effort by CGTN and Renmin University in the Chinese mainland, conducted through the Institute of International Communication in the New Era. Participants spanned from the U.S., the UK, France, and Japan to Mexico, South Africa, and Malaysia.
Reference(s):
CGTN Poll: Trump's approval rating plummets after 100 days in office
cgtn.com
