Global perceptions of the United States have declined sharply, with China now viewed more favorably than the U.S. in most of the 36 countries surveyed, according to a new global study by the Pew Research Center.
The survey, conducted between February and May 2026 among more than 42,000 adults, found that confidence in U.S. leadership has fallen during President Donald Trump’s second term, while views of China and President Xi Jinping have steadily improved.
According to the report, global attitudes toward the United States deteriorated over the past year, reversing a trend in which the U.S. had consistently been viewed more positively than China. Improving perceptions of China, combined with declining views of the U.S., have resulted in China now receiving more favorable ratings across most of the countries surveyed.
The survey also found a similar shift in confidence in world leaders. During the latter part of former President Joe Biden’s administration, confidence in Biden exceeded confidence in Chinese President Xi Jinping in most countries, although Biden’s ratings declined in many places between 2023 and 2024.
Since the start of President Trump’s second term, confidence in his leadership has fallen significantly. While many respondents still expressed limited confidence in Xi Jinping, more people overall now said they have confidence in Xi than in Trump.
Despite the broader shift, the United States continues to outperform China on perceptions of personal freedoms. More respondents said the U.S. government respects the personal freedoms of its citizens than said the same about the Chinese government.
However, the survey noted that this advantage has narrowed considerably, driven by a sharp decline in the share of people who believe the United States protects personal freedoms.
