From the perspective of Europeans, the USA is not the “hottest country in the world”, as Donald Trump sees it.Image: keystone
More junk than hot: The majority of average Europeans no longer see the USA as a friendly nation. But there is also selective agreement with Trump’s favorite topics.
02/16/2026, 05:1702/16/2026, 05:18
Ralph Schulze / ch media
While the future of transatlantic relations was debated at the Munich Security Conference, new survey data show a dramatic loss of trust in the USA: Although US President Donald Trump repeatedly claims that under him the USA has become the “hottest country in the world”, the reputation of the United States in Western Europe is worse than ever.
This emerges from a current study by the London-based international opinion research institute YouGov, which has been regularly surveying political sentiment in Europe since 2016. Citizens in Germany, Great Britain, France, Italy and Spain were surveyed, among others.
The example of Germany shows in particular how much the mood has shifted: only 21 percent now express a positive image of the USA – a year and a half ago, under President Joe Biden, it was more than half.
Carnival goers with a satirical depiction of US President Donald Trump and Greenland on the first day of the Aalst Carnival in Belgium.Image: keystone
The image of the United States has also declined significantly in the other countries examined. The drop in trust is greatest in Denmark, where only eleven percent express a positive image. Given the dispute over Greenland, which belongs to Denmark as an autonomous region and was claimed by Washington, this value is hardly surprising.
But it’s not just about likeability. In Germany, only 41 percent see the USA as a friend, ally or at least a “friendly rival”. Almost as many now classify America as unfriendly or hostile. Around three years ago, the proportion of those who perceived the United States as fundamentally friendly was around 70 percent.
However, the shift in mood does not end there. The respondents’ answers show a much more complicated picture. In almost all of the countries examined, a relative majority is in favor of placing greater emphasis on Europe’s political independence – even if this puts further strain on the transatlantic alliance.
At the same time, most of those surveyed believe that Europe’s peace and defense capability continue to depend on the USA. America is also perceived by the majority as a stronger power economically. In other words: Many Europeans want more independence – but don’t trust themselves to get along without Washington.
Agree with criticism of defense and migration
The USA’s rejection is by no means clear on all points. President Donald Trump’s personal assessment is predominantly negative in the countries examined. But on individual issues, many Europeans share central arguments from Washington. Majorities between 59 and 74 percent agree, among other things, with the assessment that Europe has so far been too dependent on the USA in defense matters.
There is also a remarkable consensus when it comes to migration policy: in all six countries examined, a majority – between 52 and 63 percent – believe that Europe has allowed too much immigration.
56 percent of the German population would be willing to increase military spending.Image: keystone
In the event that the transatlantic relationship escalates further or breaks down completely, 54 percent of Germans are in favor of greater political integration within the European Union. At the same time, a majority (56 percent) would be willing to increase defense spending.
But when it comes to other specific demands from Washington, many Europeans draw a clear line. Looser regulations against hate speech – i.e. against inflammatory or discriminatory content on the Internet – do not find a majority. The background is that representatives of the US government have long accused Europe of restricting freedom of expression too much with such regulations. Trade agreements with further advantages for the USA or additional financial contributions for American troops in Europe are also largely rejected.
For the survey, YouGov surveyed online, among others, 2,224 people aged 18 and over in Germany, 2,046 in Great Britain, 1,051 in France, 1,063 in Spain and 1,050 in Italy. (aargauerzeitung.ch)