Based on recent polling data from early to mid-2025, global opinion is divided, but views of the U.S. under the Trump administration have declined significantly, bringing confidence in the two leaders to similar levels overall, with
neither leader enjoying broad international trust. Confidence in Leadership
- Overall Median Confidence: Across 24 countries surveyed by the Pew Research Center in early 2025, President Trump and President Xi Jinping had similar median confidence ratings: 24% for Trump and 25% for Xi. This marks the narrowest gap since 2020.
- Trump's Decline: Confidence in Trump dropped sharply from the 53% who expressed confidence in President Joe Biden in 2024. Trump also has a high negative perception, with a net negative rating in 82% of countries in another survey.
- Xi's Increase: Confidence in Xi Jinping saw a slight improvement to 25% from 17% in 2024, but 66% of respondents still expressed a lack of confidence in his ability to handle world affairs.
Regional Breakdown
Trust in each leader varies significantly by region and a country's relationship with the U.S. or China:
- Higher Trust for Trump: Confidence in Trump is higher in many Western allies and partners, including Israel, Japan, South Korea, India, and Poland.
- Higher Trust for Xi: Confidence in Xi is higher in several countries, particularly in middle-income nations and parts of the Global South, such as Mexico, Indonesia, South Africa, Kenya, and Turkey.
- Similar Views: In other countries, particularly in Europe (such as Canada, France, Germany, and Italy), views of the two leaders are often similar and generally negative.
Overall Country Favorability
When asked about the countries themselves, rather than just the leaders:
- A median of 49% of adults across 24 non-U.S. countries hold a favorable view of the United States.
- A median of 36% express a favorable opinion of China.
While the U.S. generally maintains a more positive image than China, the gap is closing, with opinions of the U.S. worsening and opinions of China slightly improving in many places. Many middle-income countries are showing a growing preference
