USA Under the World’s Gaze: A Shifting Image at the Dawn of 2026

For much of the 20th century, the United States of America did not need to charm anyone: it defined the framework within which the world was organized. Today, public opinion has points of comparison. People assess, they weigh options — sometimes against Washington.

According to a major Pew Research Center survey conducted in 24 countries in 2025, around half of adults surveyed hold a favorable view of the United States, while the other half express an unfavorable opinion. The 83% favorable views in Israel stand in stark contrast with the situation observed in several historical allies where perceptions have deteriorated sharply.

An Ipsos survey conducted in 29 countries in spring 2025 confirms this shift: only 46% of respondents believe that the USA will have a positive influence on global affairs over the coming decade — compared with 59% six months earlier.

The conclusion is emerging: American prestige remains strong in some regions, but it is increasingly contested.

● Favorable

● Neutral

● Unfavorable

A Global Image That Is Fragmenting

The Pew report points to a rapid deterioration in perceptions of the USA in several allied countries. Canada, Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Spain are among the cases where favorable opinions and trust in the American presidency have dropped to their lowest levels in two decades.

Gallup’s study of American leadership shows that global approval of the USA reaches only 41% (median) across more than 130 countries in 2023, a result below Obama-era levels but still above the lowest scores recorded under Donald Trump.

The Democracy Perception Index 2025 adds further pressure: the USA’s net perception score has turned negative (–5%), while China’s has become positive (+14%).

In short, the image of the USA is no longer hegemonic; it has become contested — and in some places openly rejected.

The Americas: Prestige Erodes Where It Should Be Strongest

Canada: From Confidence to Caution

In Canada, the deterioration is spectacular. The Ipsos survey shows a drop of 33 points in six months in the share of people who believe the USA will be a positive actor in world affairs: 52% → 19%.

The USA remains Ottawa’s main ally, but Canadian public opinion now expresses strategic concern about its neighbor — something deeply unusual in contemporary history.

Mexico: Borderland Disenchantment

The same trend continues to the south. In Mexico, the perception of a positive U.S. influence falls from 67% to 46% in six months.

The United States is not rejected — but it is felt as an intrusive power, whose political rhetoric on immigration directly affects national dignity.

Latin America: A More Positive View Than Often Claimed

Contrary to common assumptions, the USA still enjoys a generally positive image in Latin America:

73% favorable opinions on average across the region,
88% in the Dominican Republic,
58% in Uruguay (regional minimum),
83% in Central America versus 69% in South America.

U.S. economic and cultural power is widely admired — but kept at political arm’s length.

Europe: The Indispensable Ally That Inspires Distrust

The USA remains the pillar of European security (NATO, Ukraine).
But public opinion now questions its political stability.

Ipsos results (April 2025) — share of the public seeing the USA as a positive influence:

United Kingdom: 39% (–17 pts vs 2024)
France: 30% (–26 pts)
Germany: 30% (–21 pts)
Spain: 33% (–21 pts)
Belgium: 23% (–24 pts)
Netherlands: 20% (–30 pts)
Sweden: 22% (–22 pts)

This decline is not a withdrawal from the West:
it is a form of democratic mistrust toward the United States of America.

Africa: The USA Respected, China Preferred

African public opinion draws a clear distinction between:

– the USA: a political, health, and educational partner,
– China: an economic partner with visible results.

According to several compared Afrobarometer surveys:

China’s positive influence reaches around 62% on average across 34 countries, often above that of the USA;
in South Africa: 32% view the USA positively, versus 37% for China.

The USA remains important — but China is increasingly preferred when it comes to concrete development.

Arab World and MENA: The Gaza Effect

The conflict in Gaza has caused a sharp rupture in public opinion:

Tunisia: favorable views of the USA drop from 40% → 10% in three weeks
Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Mauritania: declines of 7 to 23 points, according to Arab Barometer
At the same time, China gains 6 to 16 points in several surveys

The USA is no longer seen as an arbiter:
it is perceived as a party to a deep imbalance.

Asia: American Security Umbrella, Chinese Wallet

Public opinion in Southeast Asia shifts according to geopolitical tensions.
Comparison from the “State of Southeast Asia” study:

2024: 50.5% would choose China if forced to pick
2025: 52.3% would choose the USA (a reversal)

In detail:

Philippines: 86.4% for the USA
Vietnam: 73.5% for the USA
Laos / Malaysia / Indonesia: continued preference for China

The USA remains the region’s security guarantor, but rarely the political model.

The Trump Factor: A Presidency Under Scrutiny

Donald Trump’s presidency weighs heavily on the image of the USA.
The Pew report confirms this:

in 19 of 24 countries, a majority say they have little or no confidence in him,
particularly regarding climate, the global economy, and international crises.

More than just a political figure, for many he symbolizes the structural unpredictability of American politics.

Conclusion

A Superpower Whose Image Is No Longer Automatic

Three key points emerge:

Unquestioned centrality: the USA remains indispensable in global security, finance, and technology.
Declining trust: especially in countries that have traditionally been closest to it.
Heightened competition: China now offers a credible alternative in several regions.

Public opinion does not reject the USA outright:
it demands more coherence, fewer contradictions, and greater reliability.

The United States of America must now earn its status, rather than simply presuppose it.

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