Story perspectives

US falls behind Russia in perception; Trump approval 34%

5/9/2026

Center

US Falls Behind

The Alliance of Democracies Foundation survey showed global perception of the United States dropped to –16%, below Russia’s –11%.
The 2026 Democracy Perception Index placed the United States behind Russia for the first time in its rankings.
President Donald Trump’s approval rating hit 34% in both Pew (5,103) and Reuters/Ipsos (1,629) polls.
The study linked perception decline to Trump’s tariffs, NATO threats and war with Iran.

Left

Immigrants Disillusioned

Nearly half of surveyed Hispanic adults say they carry proof of citizenship or permanent residence out of fear of detention.
An Associated Press-NORC poll finds 60% of adults say the United States is no longer a great place for immigrants.
One-third of respondents see impacts from Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, about 60% among Hispanic adults.
Democrats were more likely than independents or Republicans to know someone impacted by the crackdown.

Blindspot

Center coverage emphasised Donald Trump’s record-low 34% approval rating, a detail absent from the Left summary.
Center coverage also highlighted foreign-policy factors—tariffs, NATO threats, and the Iran war—as drivers of the United States’ perception decline, which the Left summary did not mention.

History

Historical Context

The United States’ 23 % global favorability in the 2003 Pew poll—just after the Iraq invasion—dropped below Russia’s 27 % for the first time. International surveys later showed 73 % of world respondents disapproved of U.S. handling of the war (BBC, 2007). The 2026 Alliance of Democracies survey repeats the pattern, with U.S. perception at –16 % versus Russia’s –11 %.

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US Falls Behind

The Alliance of Democracies Foundation survey showed global perception of the United States dropped to –16%, below Russia’s –11%.
The 2026 Democracy Perception Index placed the United States behind Russia for the first time in its rankings.
President Donald Trump’s approval rating hit 34% in both Pew (5,103) and Reuters/Ipsos (1,629) polls.
The study linked perception decline to Trump’s tariffs, NATO threats and war with Iran.

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