Except Russia, The World Thinks Worse Of US Under President Trump, Survey Finds

The image of the U.S. has taken a beating in countries across the world after President Donald Trump took office in January, according to a survey by the PEW Research Center on Monday. Among the 37 countries surveyed, a median of meager 22 percent trusted Trump to take the right decision related to international issues. Meanwhile, 64 percent expressed confidence in former President Barack Obama’s presidency on the same parameters.

Interestingly, Trump’s scores read higher than Obama’s in only two nations across those surveyed- Russia and Israel. The survey was conducted by the nonpartisan American think tank across 40,447 respondents in these 37 countries outside the U.S. from Feb. 16 to May 8, 2017.

Read: Trump's Approval Rating Hits 36 Percent Low In New Poll Amid Russia Investigation

The steepest declines in the country’s image are seen in the country’s long-standing allies in Europe, Asia, as well as the neighboring countries of Mexico and Canada. According to the survey, the confidence is influenced by the president’s policies as well as his character.

The poll examined attitudes toward five major policy proposals President Trump supported. The largest figure showing negative reactions emerges from Mexico where his plan to build a border wall is opposed by 94 percent of the population. The overall opposition to this particular policy stands at 76 percent across the countries surveyed.

Other policy initiatives that have been frowned upon include pulling out of important trade agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal and withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement. Nearly 62 percent believed that Trump was right in introducing restrictions on those entering the country from the Muslim–majority nations and more than half endorsed this in Hungary, Israel, Poland, and Russia. Jordan, Lebanon, and Senegal were among the 32 percent that thought his Muslim ban was unfounded. Trump’s intention to back away from the nuclear weapons agreement with Iran met with less opposition than his other policy initiatives although the president is yet to implement it.

Most people across the globe described Trump as an "arrogant" person. Nearly 65 percent subscribed to the view that he was intolerant while 62 percent even thought of him as "dangerous". On the other hand, some people think of him as a well-qualified individual or as someone who cares about ordinary people. A median of 55 percent, however, thought Trump was a strong leader.

Favorability ratings for Trump have only improved in Russia and Vietnam. After the Ukraine crisis in 2014, ratings of both Obama and the U.S. as a country dropped drastically. However, the opinions have become much more favorable since 2015. Trump has received more positive reviews in Russia than any of his predecessors. This comes amid an investigation into allegations of Russia interfering in the U.S. presidential election. Meanwhile, 81 percent of Israelis said they had a positive view of the U.S. as a country. According to the report, ratings of the U.S. presidents in this country were ever-fluctuating. However, Israel is one of only two countries in which Trump’s ratings are higher than Obama’s during the final two years of his administration.

Read: Obama Authorized NSA Cyber Strikes Against Russia In Response To Putin's Pro-Trump Campaign

Trump is in the same league as Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, all of who are distrusted across the globe. The survey also found out that 42 percent of the people thought German Chancellor Angela Merkel could be trusted.

Even as the U.S president is looked at with apprehension, people across the globe still had more regard for the American people as opposed to the U.S. as a country. A median 58 percent of the people had a favorable opinion of the Americans and thought Washington respected personal freedom of its people. About 65 percent of the people liked American music, movies, and television.

When asked if relations of their countries with the U.S. would improve under Trump’s presidency, 38 percent pf the people in the Asia-Pacific and 37 percent in the Europe, excluding Russia, had a negative response while 26 percent in Africa thought they would get better.