The 2025 Democracy Perception Index reveals a sharp global decline in America’s image, with Trump now less popular than Putin, Xi, and even Kim Kardashian.

The United States has seen a dramatic drop in global popularity following US President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, according to the 2025 Democracy Perception Index, which surveyed over 110,000 people across 100 countries. The survey revealed that the majority of respondents now view the US negatively, with sentiment in European Union countries dropping the most.

The steep decline comes as Trump continues to disparage the EU, calling it “horrible", “pathetic", and “formed to screw the United States.” Former NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who now heads the Alliance of Democracies Foundation, said he was “not surprised that perceptions of the United States have fallen so sharply.”

Trump ranks lowest among global leaders

The Index shows that Trump’s personal approval has collapsed globally, ranking lower than Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. Trump placed last in a list of political, cultural, and spiritual figures, which included Elon Musk, Bill Gates, Taylor Swift, Pope Francis, and Kim Kardashian.

The data reflect a growing divide between how the US views itself and how it is perceived abroad. As dissatisfaction with American foreign policy and rhetoric increases, especially under Trump's leadership, the credibility of the US on the global stage appears increasingly fragile.

China overtakes US in international perception

While America’s image deteriorates, China has overtaken the US in global popularity for the first time in the index’s history. Chinese global standing has improved across nearly all regions, except Europe, marking a shift in the international power balance.

Democracy Perception Index 2025

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The 2025 Democracy Perception Index, coauthored by the Alliance of Democracies Foundation and Nira Data, highlights that perceptions of China are now “mostly positive” in Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.

'Israel' ranks lowest in global public opinion

According to the survey, "Israel" now holds the worst global reputation, particularly in the Middle East and South Asia. Even in historically supportive European countries like Germany, public opinion has turned sharply amid staggering reports of civilian casualties in Gaza and the West Bank.

The reputational collapse comes in the wake of arrest warrants issued last year by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Security Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes.

ICC warrants and Gaza war drive reputational damage

As the Gaza war continues and international outrage builds, the global perception of both the US and "Israel" appears increasingly linked. Many respondents cited Washington’s support for "Israel" as a key factor in their declining trust in the United States.

The online survey, conducted between April 9 and 23, 2025, drew from a sample of 111,273 respondents in 100 countries, with data weighted to reflect national demographics. The results paint a sobering picture: as geopolitical tensions grow, the US is no longer seen as the standard-bearer of democracy, but rather as a divisive force on the world stage.