Public image of US freefalling due to Biden's handling of Gaza: Poll
4 Min Read
Across the 34 countries questioned, a median of 43% trust Biden to do the right thing in international affairs, compared to only 28% who trust Trump.
-
President Joe Biden speaks during a Juneteenth concert on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on June 10, 2024. (AP)
The public image of the United States has declined publicly over the last year, influenced in large part by the US complicity in the war on Gaza, according to a new Pew Research poll.
Between January 5 and May 21, 2024, 40,566 persons in 34 nations, except the United States, participated in the poll.
An opinion poll conducted in 34 countries released on Tuesday revealed that the current US President Joe Biden's ratings have declined in 14 of 21 countries, although he is higher rated than his predecessor Donald Trump.
Across the 34 countries questioned, a median of 43% trust Biden to do the right thing in international affairs, compared to only 28% who trust Trump.
The president receives the most unfavorable feedback on his handling of the war on Gaza: a median of 31% approve while 57% disagree.
Muslim majority nations surveyed like Malaysia, Tunisia, and Turkey disapprove of Biden's handling of the war on Gaza. In Bangladesh, opinions on this subject are varied.
37%+ of Americans believe they could do better than Biden, Trump: Poll
A new survey done by Talker Research with the participation of 500 Democrats and 500 Republicans deduced that over one-third of Americans (37%) believe they would be a better president of the United States than the current candidates, Joe Biden and Donald Trump.
This comes amid a looming June 27 date when Biden and Trump will dominate the stage for the first presidential debate of the 2024 election season, and the poll shows that three in five Americans (61%) will be listening closely.
The poll revealed that the top three topics that Americans want to see debated are the rising cost of living (50%), inflation (49%), and immigration (38%). Only 18% of Democrats view immigration as important to them, compared to 51% of Republicans.
45% of Democrats say abortion and healthcare are critical, ranking as the second most important issue followed by the rising cost of living (51%), while only 15% of Republicans feel that way.
G7 leaders to urge all sides to accept Biden’s ceasefire deal
Group of Seven (G7) leaders will call on both "Israel" and the Palestinian Resistance to accept the cease-fire deal proposed by US President Joe Biden, according to a draft statement seen by Bloomberg.
In the communiqué from their annual meeting this week, the allies will urge "Israel" to de-escalate its "full-scale military offensive" in Rafah and may include language advocating for actions aligned with provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice.
The G7's wording, specifically mentioning Biden, seems intended to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into formally accepting the ceasefire proposal he has been hesitant about. The communiqué states that "Israel is ready to move forward," aiming to push Netanyahu toward action.
Civilians have been sheltering in Rafah, where the United Nations describes conditions as catastrophic. The US and other Israeli allies have expressed concern over the scale of ground operations in the area. “We urge countries with influence over Hamas” to help ensure it accepts a cease-fire, the leaders of the G7 will say.
Another item in the draft, still pending unanimous agreement, concerns the recognition of a Palestinian state as part of a two-state peace process. “We note that the recognition of a Palestinian state, at the appropriate time, would be a crucial component,” reads the provisional language.
G7 allies will condemn moves by "Israel" to order the evacuation of the eastern part of al-Quds offices of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.
Some governments, including Italy, which holds the G7 presidency this year, have resumed funding the agency after "Israel" alleged that some of its staffers collaborated with Hamas. The UN is continuing its investigations into UNRWA.
