Pew survey: Global confidence in Donald Trump remains low on world affairs in 2026

A Pew Research Centre survey showed weak global trust in US President Donald Trump. It found 76 per cent of respondents had no confidence in Donald Trump’s leadership. Only 23 per cent said Donald Trump could handle world affairs well. Confidence fell in 16 of 24 countries measured. It did not improve in any country.

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The survey covered 42,151 people in 36 countries. Interviews ran from February 8 to May 13, 2026. Across all nations polled, a median of 32 per cent said US policy considers their interests. They said this happens a great deal or a fair amount. The results were released on Tuesday.

Donald Trump approval ratings in India and Israel

In India, views were mixed on Donald Trump’s global leadership. The survey said 39 per cent in India had confidence in Donald Trump. It said 36 per cent in India had no confidence. In the previous year, 51 per cent in India expressed confidence. The poll also found 51 per cent of Indians trusted Vladimir Putin.

Israel showed stronger support for the US and Donald Trump. The survey said 81 per cent in Israel had a positive view of the US. It also reported 66 per cent had confidence in Donald Trump. Respondents said Donald Trump would do the right thing in world affairs. These results differed sharply from most other places surveyed.

Donald Trump tariff policy approval across countries

The report flagged low support for Donald Trump’s tariff approach. Across countries, only 18 per cent approved of the tariff policy. Views on US immigration policy were less negative. The survey said 32 per cent found US immigration policy favourable. Both issues were measured in the same global study.

Support for Donald Trump’s tariff policies varied widely by country. Approval was 27 per cent in the UK and 17 per cent in Canada. It was 15 per cent in Japan and 14 per cent in South Korea. Mexico recorded 11 per cent and Germany 8 per cent.

Kenya stood out on tariffs in the Pew Research Centre findings. It was the only country where a majority backed Donald Trump’s handling of tariffs. The survey said 55 per cent in Kenya approved. No other country surveyed showed majority support on this issue. The broader pattern remained negative.

Donald Trump confidence levels in Europe and Muslim-majority publics

In France, Germany and Greece, Donald Trump’s confidence scores were among the lowest. Pew said these ratings often matched views of Vladimir Putin, Benjamin Netanyahu, or both. In Germany, 16 per cent had confidence in Donald Trump. Similar shares backed Vladimir Putin at 15 per cent and Benjamin Netanyahu at 15 per cent.

German respondents expressed far more trust in Emmanuel Macron. The survey found 72 per cent in Germany had confidence in Emmanuel Macron. This contrasted strongly with low ratings for Donald Trump and other leaders. The comparison helped show how isolated Donald Trump’s standing was in parts of Europe.

The study also found very weak ratings for Donald Trump in Muslim-majority publics. Pew said Donald Trump scored especially low in these groups. Among Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, only four per cent trusted Donald Trump. This was close to Benjamin Netanyahu at two per cent.

Among the same Palestinian respondents, other leaders scored higher than Donald Trump. Pew reported roughly four-in-ten had confidence in Vladimir Putin. A similar share trusted China’s President Xi Jinping. These figures highlighted how Donald Trump’s ratings lagged behind key global figures. The survey tracked these views within the 36-country sample.

With inputs from PTI