America's image worsens under Trump

[webfact]

America's image worsens under Trump

By Noah Barkin

 

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a Medal of Honor ceremony for former U.S. Army medic Ronald J. Shurer awarded "for conspicuous gallantry" for actions he took while serving in 2008 in Afghanistan at the White House in Washington, U.S., October 1, 2018. REUTERS/Leah Millis

 

BERLIN (Reuters) - The image of the United States has deteriorated further among its traditional allies after a year in which President Donald Trump ratcheted up his verbal attacks on countries like Canada and Germany, a leading survey showed.

 

The survey of 25 nations by the Pew Research Center also showed that respondents from across the globe have less confidence in Trump's ability to lead than they do in Russia's Vladimir Putin and China's Xi Jinping.

 

Since taking office in January 2017, Trump has pulled the United States out of international agreements like the Paris climate accord and Iran nuclear deal, cozied up to authoritarian leaders like Putin and North Korea's Kim Jong Un, and criticised his neighbours and NATO allies.

 

In June, after a G7 summit in Canada, Trump refused to sign a joint statement with America's allies, deriding his host, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as "very dishonest and weak". He has repeatedly attacked Germany for its trade surplus, low defence spending and reliance on Russian gas.

 

Last week, when giving a speech at the U.N. General Assembly in New York, Trump drew laughter from world leaders when he claimed to have achieved more in his two years in the White House than almost any other U.S. administration in history.

 

The survey showed that America's image, which took a big hit in 2017, Trump's first year in office, continued to deteriorate in many countries in 2018, particularly in Europe.

 

Just 30 percent of Germans have a favourable view of the United States, down five points from last year and the lowest score in the entire survey after Russia, on 26 percent.

 

Only 38 percent of French and 39 percent of Canadians said they had a positive view of the United States, both down from last year. Mexico inched up slightly to 32 percent.

 

FAITH IN MERKEL HIGHEST

The countries with the most positive views of the United States were Israel, the Philippines and South Korea, all at 80 percent or above.

 

Across all countries, the U.S. got positive marks, with 50 percent saying they had a positive view, compared to 43 percent who were negative.

 

Just 7 percent of Spanish, 9 percent of French and 10 percent of Germans said they had confidence in Trump's leadership. In 20 of the 25 countries surveyed, a majority said they had no confidence in Trump.

 

Across all countries, an average of 27 percent of respondents said they had confidence in Trump. That compared unfavourably to Putin, on 30 percent, and Xi, on 34 percent.

 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was the only leader in which a majority of those surveyed, 52 percent, expressed confidence. French President Emmanuel Macron was just behind at 46 percent.

 

Despite Trump's low ratings, 63 percent of respondents said the world was better off with the United States as the leading power, compared to 19 percent who preferred China in that role.

 

Allies took a dim view of the Trump administration's position on civil liberties, with majorities in Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia and Mexico saying the government did not respect the personal freedoms of its people.

 

Reflecting Trump's "America First" stance, substantial majorities in 19 of the 25 countries surveyed said the United States did not take their interests into account when making international policy.

 

The survey was conducted between May and August, and based on interviews with over 900 people in each of the surveyed countries.

 

(Reporting by Noah Barkin, editing by Ed Osmond)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-10-02

[car720]

As much as I would love to blame Trump for this I think it has been much longer in the coming.

[LomSak27]

I read and then saw the clips about how Trump was laughed at during his address to the UN. Quickly hit the FOX news network  ....NOT A WORD   

 

What are the Cons forever whining about ... the mainstream networks slant the news ... . Hey at least they report it. True to form, if it is something that doesn't fit in FOXWORLD, they just don't print it.  Just cultivating a nation of ignorant know nothings.

 

 

[irwinfc]

why single out trump? ALL americans are to blame for their worsening image. 

[Guest]

Still remember the saying " Don't Thai to me ", which said don't lie to me / don't try to rip of me.

 

Now we have " Don't be an American ", which means don't be stupid. 

 

Trump, Sarah Palin, Tea party, NRA & mass shootings etc. has brought in to the views of world, at least how some parts of, the USA society thinks and acts. It's not a pretty picture and not to be proud of. Chanting "USA, USA, USA" sounds so very foreign for most of us outside of USA. 

 

Oh. I almost forgot the Newborn Christians and their wish for salvation by Armageddon. Oh boy!

[Spidey]

1 hour ago, irwinfc said:

why single out trump? ALL americans are to blame for their worsening image. 

 

Not true. Less than half of them are. My opinion of Americans has lowered greatly since he came to office.

Not because of Trumps antics. Not because of all Americans, but because of the simple fact that his base, i.r.o. 40% of Americans, blindly follow him. Which puts 40% of Americans down as extremely stupid, racist bigots, which is a much higher figure than I would have thought it was before his election.

[Berkshire]

1 hour ago, car720 said:

As much as I would love to blame Trump for this I think it has been much longer in the coming.

Eh, no.  This is largely about Trump.

[Ramdas]

I can’t think of any positive word to describe such individual, he’s a global disaster to put it lightly.

He’s now got more enemies than allies with his insular and ignorant mind nothing good comes out of him.

I was meant to return to New York but just the thought of him being there it turned me completely off..

I’m sincerely hoping that the Americans ( the ones who make sense not the alike him ) won’t allow him passed the 2nd term of his presidency, go and vote ! Get rid of this trouble maker the sooner the better !

[xerostar]

This article is typical leftist propaganda. 

[IAMHERE]

39 minutes ago, Spidey said:

Which puts 40% of Americans down as extremely stupid, racist bigots,

Geez, I'd feel insulted except that depiction is way less than what the demo's and liberal mass media has said already about Trump supporters.  Don't know how I'm gonna sleep at night knowing all the world hates me. Just hope they are willing to trade fairly.

[Scott]

Troll posts and replies removed.  

 

[Tug]

I disagree there many kind generous smart and loving people here there is also a lot of real idiots plus a lot of stubborn people that won’t admit trump was a really big bo bo we will get through it

[Scott]

Off-topic post removed.   Please stay on topic.  

 

[CharlieH]

Post removed.

 

11) You will not post slurs, degrading or overly negative comments directed towards Thailand, specific locations, Thai institutions such as the judicial or law enforcement system, Thai culture, Thai people or any other group on the basis of race, nationality, religion, gender or sexual orientation.

[NaamGin]

Reflecting Trump's "America First" stance, substantial majorities in 19 of the 25 countries surveyed said the United States did not take their interests into account when making international policy.

 

Why should he, what part of an "America First" policy do you not understand? 

The US has been paying both their friends and enemies in various ways for decades, just to keep them as allies. At this point, with $21,000,000,000,000+ on the balance sheet, you fair weather friends are on your own. 

[Spidey]

41 minutes ago, IAMHERE said:

Just hope they are willing to trade fairly.

 

The UK always did trade fairly with the US. It's trump that has imposed steel tariffs on us.

[CharlieH]

Off topic/bickering removed.

[Nyezhov]

6 minutes ago, Nice Boyd said:

Typical Thaivisa reply , any chance to bash Yanks , is an amusing game for most on this site 

Well in fairness to Spidey, I am unclear as to the efficacy of Tariffs on the Poms, unless it was meant to assist the Brexiteers.

[Spidey]

2 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

Well in fairness to Spidey, I am unclear as to the efficacy of Tariffs on the Poms, unless it was meant to assist the Brexiteers.

 

Brexit has been subject to gross interference from both Obama and Trump. Trade arrangements after Brexit have been the biggest worry for both sides.

 

Just before the vote, Obama announced to the British people that if they chose Brexit they would go to the back of the queue for trade arrangements with the US. A clear attempt to garner a remain vote from the British people.

 

Recently, as Theresa May neared finalisation of her Brexit proposals, Trump announced that if we went for a soft exit, as per May's proposal, there would be no trade agreements with the US. A clear attempt to influence the government into a hard Brexit.

[Stargeezr]

I know that America was not the one getting screwed with NAFTA, but with someone like Trump,  that must be what he believes and I guess some people believe every word he says. Ugly American has nothing to do with looks but does speak of character etc.

[The Deerhunter]

2 hours ago, Ramdas said:

I can’t think of any positive word to describe such individual, he’s a global disaster to put it lightly.

He’s now got more enemies than allies with his insular and ignorant mind nothing good comes out of him.

I was meant to return to New York but just the thought of him being there it turned me completely off..

I’m sincerely hoping that the Americans ( the ones who make sense not the alike him ) won’t allow him passed the 2nd term of his presidency, go and vote ! Get rid of this trouble maker the sooner the better !

Agree but just make sure the opposition party doesn't only give you Hillary as an alternative. Was he voted in on his own perceived merits or elected by default because she was voted against?  If I was an American I would have voted for him on the basis that we did not know how bad he could be;  while her performance under Obama was so transparently self serving and against American interests that she could not be trusted as President.

[simple1]

2 hours ago, xerostar said:

This article is typical leftist propaganda. 

Is Pew Research an ideological 'leftist' research group - No. Your response is typical of Trump and his Base - negative news - knee jerk response - blame the 'left'.

[vinegarbase]

The article should say. "America's image worsens under Trump among leftists and globalists" There fixed it for you. Conservatives and anyone on the right loves Trump and what he is doing to wake up citizens from their slumber to start taking their countries back. 

[Redline]

3 hours ago, Spidey said:

 

Not true. Less than half of them are. My opinion of Americans has lowered greatly since he came to office.

Not because of Trumps antics. Not because of all Americans, but because of the simple fact that his base, i.r.o. 40% of Americans, blindly follow him. Which puts 40% of Americans down as extremely stupid, racist bigots, which is a much higher figure than I would have thought it was before his election.

Vote turnout was very low, rich people and corporations wanted DT, The Russian campaign was very successful, and then there are the ignorant and lost-so I place the percentage as about 20 to 25 percent, which, unfortunately, has always been less than informed, and gullible 

[Roadman]

2 minutes ago, vinegarbase said:

The article should say. "America's image worsens under Trump among leftists and globalists" There fixed it for you. Conservatives and anyone on the right loves Trump and what he is doing to wake up citizens from their slumber to start taking their countries back. 

Taking their countries back? Refer to the Brexit article above. I am Conservative and heavily to the right and Trump is an idiot. 

[vinegarbase]

5 minutes ago, Roadman said:

Taking their countries back? Refer to the Brexit article above. I am Conservative and heavily to the right and Trump is an idiot. 

 

You saying that Trump is an idiot is one thing and you are entitled to your opinion (I think he is a genius who has outplayed the left consistently) but you probably can't deny that Trump has been a major reason for waking up the right no matter the country. He is one of the few politicians who is not afraid to say things that are not PC.

Edited October 2, 2018 by vinegarbase

[Time Traveller]

4 hours ago, Spidey said:

 

Not true. Less than half of them are. My opinion of Americans has lowered greatly since he came to office.

Not because of Trumps antics. Not because of all Americans, but because of the simple fact that his base, i.r.o. 40% of Americans, blindly follow him. Which puts 40% of Americans down as extremely stupid, racist bigots, which is a much higher figure than I would have thought it was before his election.

You forgot to add the 40% of Americans that blindly follow the Democrats as well

[Jonnapat]

3 hours ago, xerostar said:

This article is typical leftist propaganda. 

Maybe, but you can't argue with the figures and there is no propaganda involved, simply the results of country surveys. In short, Trump is detested almost everywhere. 

[ParadiseLost]

Born in an African country, I can say quite unashamedly I grew up a huge fan of anything and everything USA, a sentiment which has stayed with me until today.

 

However, the past few decades have been a gradual slide into greed-fueled binging by the rich Americans, at the expense of the working class. Democrats have promised many things but nothing has improved, even when they were in total control of both houses.

 

Donald Trump is not the cause of the decline, rather he is the final product - like the bursting of a big festering zit which has been growing a long time.

 

Americas decline started with their first geriatric, celebrity president, Ronald Reagan.

[mauGR1]

Since the beginning of the 'gulf war'  the Europeans have been harshly criticizing American foreign politics.

I would say that Donald Trump has added something which i can only describe as farcical.

It must be said, though, that the current President has not started any war yet.