China and Xi Jinping now viewed more favorably than US and Trump globally, Pew survey finds

A major Pew Research Center survey of over 42,000 people reveals a historic shift in global public opinion, with China and leader Xi Jinping now viewed more favorably than the United States and President Donald Trump. For the first time in 20 years of tracking, China is more popular than the U.S. in 25 of 36 surveyed countries, including key allies like Canada and Germany. This turnaround is driven by souring global attitudes toward Trump's foreign policies, trade tariffs, and military actions, even as the U.S. maintains a narrowing lead in perceptions of respecting personal freedoms.

Global favorability shift toward China

• ▪A Pew Research Center survey of more than 42,000 people across 36 countries found that China is viewed more favorably than the United States in 25 nations
• ▪The Pew Research Center survey marks the first time in approximately 20 years of tracking that China has been viewed more positively than the United States globally
• ▪In Canada, favorable opinions of the United States dropped from 57% in 2023 to 33% in 2026, while favorable views of China rose from 14% to 44% over the same period

Trump confidence ratings decline

• ▪Global confidence in the United States president declined during the final term of Joe Biden and accelerated after Donald Trump took office
• ▪Only 21% of respondents in the Pew Research Center survey expressed confidence in United States President Donald Trump to do the right thing regarding world affairs

Xi Jinping rising approval

• ▪Global confidence in Chinese leader Xi Jinping rose to 30% in 2026, up from 25% in 2025, though overall confidence in both Xi and Donald Trump remains low
• ▪In Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, confidence ratings for Xi Jinping lead Donald Trump by double digits

Regional attitude patterns

• ▪Middle-income countries in the Pew survey generally held positive views of China, while wealthier countries tended to hold more negative views, with Singapore being a high-income exception
• ▪Only six countries surveyed—Israel, Poland, the Philippines, South Korea, India, and Japan—view the United States more favorably than China

Latin America influence competition

• ▪Latin American respondents are significantly more likely to say that the United States interferes in the affairs of other countries compared to China
• ▪Pew Research Center findings show that views of China in Latin America are now slightly more positive than views of the United States, driven by worsening U.S. ratings

Personal freedoms perceptions

• ▪Thirty-nine percent of respondents believe the United States government respects personal freedoms, compared to 26% who believe the Chinese government does
• ▪The gap between the United States and China regarding respect for personal freedoms has narrowed, driven by declining global perceptions of U.S. respect for freedoms since 2021