In recent years, Donald Trump’s presidency has been controversial globally. His “America First” policies on trade, immigration, climate change and more have caused division between the United States and its traditional allies. While some world leaders have embraced Trump’s nationalist agenda, others have pushed back against it. This article will examine what countries tend to be the most anti-Trump.
European Union
Many European Union nations have had strained relations with the Trump administration. Trump has criticized the EU on issues like trade, defense spending and immigration. Some specific anti-Trump EU countries include:
Germany
Germany, under Chancellor Angela Merkel, has clashed with Trump on a number of issues. Merkel rejected Trump’s attempts to return Russia to the G7. She criticized Trump’s decision to impose steel and aluminum tariffs on the EU. Merkel also spoke out against Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris climate accord. Polls show Germans overwhelmingly disapprove of Trump, with over 70% having no confidence in the president as of 2020.
France
France, under President Emmanuel Macron, has also had a strained relationship with Trump. Macron disagrees with Trump’s stances on Iran and climate change. Their relationship further deteriorated in late 2018 after Macron criticized nationalism and Trump mocked Macron’s low approval ratings. An October 2020 poll found that only 10% of French citizens had confidence in Trump.
United Kingdom
The UK-US “special relationship” has become more fractured under Trump. British leaders have criticized Trump for his rhetoric on immigration and race relations. Trump has been deeply unpopular in the UK according to polls. For instance, in 2018 only 21% of Britons said they trusted Trump to do the right thing in international affairs.
Canada
Canada, under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, has had an icy relationship with Trump. The two leaders have clashed on issues like trade and defense spending. Trump imposed tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum and threatened tariffs on autos. In 2018, Trudeau said Canada would not be “pushed around” by the US on trade. Most Canadians have an unfavorable view of Trump according to polls.
Mexico
Mexico has been a frequent target of Trump’s most controversial policies, like immigration and the border wall. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has avoided publicly criticizing Trump. However, most Mexicans hold very negative views of Trump. A 2020 poll found that over 80% of Mexicans had no confidence in Trump.
Nordic Countries
The Nordic nations of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland are known for their progressive politics. This clashes with Trump’s conservative-populist agenda. For example, Trump criticized Sweden’s immigration policies at a rally. Leaders and citizens from Nordic countries largely disapprove of Trump according to polls.
Sweden
In 2018, only 10% of Swedes had confidence in Trump. Swedish leaders have condemned Trump’s rhetoric on immigration. After Trump’s “shithole countries” remark, the Swedish government demanded an apology.
Denmark
Denmark rebuked Trump after he proposed buying Greenland from Denmark in 2019. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called the discussion “absurd.” In a 2020 poll, only 13% of Danes had confidence in Trump’s ability to handle international affairs.
China
Trump made getting tough on China a centerpiece of his foreign policy. He imposed tariffs, restricted Chinese investment in the US and blamed China for the COVID-19 pandemic. China retaliated with trade penalties of its own. Chinese President Xi Jinping distanced himself from Trump as tensions escalated. According to polls, over 80% of Chinese people viewed Trump negatively.
Iran
Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 over the objections of other signatories. Trump imposed crippling sanctions on Iran as part of a “maximum pressure” campaign. Iranian leaders reacted angrily, resuming nuclear activities and attacking US forces. According to state media polls, over 80% of Iranians hold a negative opinion of Trump.
Venezuela
Trump refused to recognize Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro after his disputed 2018 reelection. Instead, Trump backed opposition leader Juan Guaido. Trump administration officials called for the ouster of Maduro, who remains in power. According to local polls, around 70% of Venezuelans disapprove of Trump.
Palestine
Trump broke with decades of US policy by recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in 2017. He also released a Middle East peace plan in 2020 that was rejected by Palestinian leaders. A 2018 poll found that 91% of Palestinians believed Trump was biased in favor of Israel.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Trump made some disparaging comments about African nations, reportedly calling them “shithole countries” in 2018. According to Pew surveys, confidence in Trump was quite low across Sub-Saharan Africa. For instance, in Kenya, Tanzania and Nigeria his ratings were between 58-75% negative.
Africa Reactions
| Country | Reaction to Trump |
|---|---|
| Nigeria | 75% had no confidence in Trump in 2020 poll |
| South Africa | 79% viewed Trump negatively in 2018 poll |
| Kenya | 71% had no confidence in Trump in 2020 poll |
Middle East
In addition to Palestine and Iran, many Middle Eastern nations have reacted negatively to Trump. In Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon, over 80% viewed Trump unfavorably according to polls. The exceptions are Israel and Saudi Arabia, whose leaders have embraced Trump.
Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formed a close partnership with Trump. Trump delivered long-sought Israeli goals like recognizing Jerusalem and Golan Heights. In 2020, nearly 70% of Israelis had confidence in Trump according to a poll.
Asia-Pacific
Trump has also faced heavy criticism across the Asia-Pacific region. Leaders and citizens in Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea largely disapprove of Trump.
Australia
Australia has been a key US ally, but confidence in Trump declined under Prime Minister Scott Morrison. A 2020 poll found just 10% of Australians had confidence in Trump. His handling of COVID-19 and climate change have been sore points.
New Zealand
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has also clashed with Trump on issues like climate change and online extremism. In 2018, only 25% of Kiwis expressed confidence in Trump’s foreign policy.
Japan
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sought to maintain positive ties with Trump. However, the Japanese public has disapproved of Trump’s foreign policy according to polls. In 2020, just 25% of Japanese people expressed confidence in Trump.
Conclusion
In summary, opposition and antipathy toward Trump has been quite strong across Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific. Some of the most unfavorable views of Trump have come from traditional US allies like Germany, France, the UK and Canada. Trump has also faced criticism from leaders and citizens in Mexico, China, Iran, Palestine, Australia, New Zealand and other nations. The countries most positively disposed toward Trump have been Israel, Saudi Arabia and a few other autocracies. But overall, Trump’s “America First” agenda has alienated many foreign nations that disapprove of his leadership.