Canadians are viewing the United States less favourably than ever, with confidence in Washington and President Donald Trump continuing to decline both in Canada and around the world, according to a new international survey.
The study found that only one-third of Canadians now have a favourable opinion of the United States, a sharp decline from recent years. Confidence in the U.S. as a reliable partner has also dropped dramatically, with just 35 per cent of Canadians expressing trust in the relationship compared with more than 80 per cent in 2022.
Relations between Canada and the United States have been strained by ongoing trade disputes, tariff threats and repeated comments by President Trump regarding Canada. Tensions have also been fuelled by disagreements surrounding major infrastructure projects and concerns over economic policies.
The survey, conducted among more than 42,000 adults in 36 countries, found that confidence in President Trump’s leadership on global affairs has fallen in many nations. Respondents gave poor ratings to his handling of key international issues, including tariffs, the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, Iran, and other foreign policy matters.
Trump’s tariff policies were particularly unpopular in Canada, with only 17 per cent of Canadians expressing approval. Canadians also registered strong disapproval over cuts to international humanitarian aid programs, with only 22 per cent supporting the administration’s actions in that area.
The report noted that declining perceptions of the United States are not limited to Canada. Countries with long-standing economic and security ties to Washington, including Germany, Sweden, Australia and Italy, have also recorded significant drops in confidence.
Across the countries surveyed, only about one-third of respondents believed the United States contributes positively to global peace and stability, while large majorities disapproved of the administration’s approach to issues such as Iran and international aid.
Despite the overall decline, President Trump continued to receive relatively stronger support in countries including the Philippines, Israel, Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana. However, the findings suggest that global confidence in American leadership has weakened considerably over the past year, with Canada among the countries showing the sharpest decline in trust and favourable views toward its closest neighbour.