June 10, 2026, 12:41 p.mJune 10, 2026, 1:26 p.m
US President Donald Trump’s policies are causing Swiss people’s trust in the United States to continue to dwindle. According to a survey published on Wednesday, more than 40 percent now view Trump as an opponent or rival. Six months ago the corresponding values were significantly lower.
Donald Trump is increasingly unpopular in Switzerland.Image: keystone
25.8 percent of those surveyed now classify Trump as an opponent. That is five percentage points more than in November 2024, when the Republican won the presidential election. Another 15 percent see him as a rival. This means that Switzerland has the highest proportion of people who view Trump as an opponent among the twelve European countries examined.
At 45.4 percent, the largest group of respondents still sees the USA under Trump as an ally or partner. However, this proportion has fallen from over 53 percent within six months.
In particular, the number of those who talk about a partnership fell significantly. The results come from a survey conducted in May by the European Council on Foreign Relations think tank, which was prepared in collaboration with the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (EDA). The reasons for the increasing skepticism include Trump’s customs policy and his repeated attacks on the existing international order.
The survey also shows dwindling confidence in the security role of the United States. Three quarters of those surveyed do not believe that Washington would provide Switzerland with military support in the event of an attack. At the same time, two thirds are convinced that the member states of the European Union would come to Switzerland’s aid.
There is correspondingly great reluctance towards American armaments material. 73 percent are against buying US weapons. Only a little more than 15 percent are in favor of appropriate procurement. A similarly large majority advocates purchasing more European military equipment in the future. (hkl/sda)