By Newspot Nigeria Global Desk
A new report by Pew Research Center has revealed a sharp decline in the global image of the United States under President Donald Trump, with confidence in his leadership on world affairs plummeting in many advanced economies. Yet, Nigeria stands out as one of the few countries where Trump enjoys overwhelming support.
According to the June 2025 global survey spanning 24 countries, a median of only 34% of respondents expressed confidence in Trump to “do the right thing” in global affairs, while 62% said they had little or no confidence in him. Despite this widespread skepticism, Nigeria recorded the highest level of support, with 79% of Nigerians expressing confidence in Trump—surpassing even close U.S. allies like Israel (69%) and India (52%).
This remarkable confidence in Trump among Nigerians cuts across religious lines, with 81% of Christians and 74% of Muslims expressing trust in his global leadership.
🌐 Trump vs. Biden: A Global Split
The report also shows that while Trump’s image has improved in some countries since his first term in 2017, his overall approval still lags behind that of President Joe Biden’s 2024 ratings in 13 countries, including Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden. However, in six countries—including Nigeria, Israel, Turkey, and India—Trump’s approval ratings exceeded Biden’s.
In Nigeria specifically, Trump outperforms Biden by 13 percentage points, highlighting a significant tilt in public sentiment toward the Republican leader.
👨🏾🦱👩🏽🦱 Demographic Divides: Age, Gender, and Politics
The Pew report also highlights global demographic divides in opinions about Trump:
- Men are generally more supportive of Trump than women in 17 of the countries surveyed.
- Younger adults (18–34) tend to view Trump more favorably than older adults in countries like Japan, South Africa, and the UK.
- Right-wing populist party supporters in Europe and beyond—such as Hungary’s Fidesz and Germany’s AfD—show significantly more confidence in Trump than other political groups.
Interestingly, Turkey is the only country where respondents on the political left expressed more confidence in Trump than those on the right—an anomaly in an otherwise ideologically polarized global map.
🇺🇸🇳🇬 Why Does Nigeria Buck the Trend?
Analysts believe that Trump’s tough-talking, populist style and perceived pro-Christian stance may be contributing to his high popularity in Nigeria. The country has historically shown favorable views of strong U.S. leaders, and Trump’s past rhetoric on religious freedom and economic nationalism likely resonates with many Nigerians frustrated by internal corruption and global inequities.
Despite criticism of Trump’s foreign policy in much of Europe and Latin America, Nigeria, Kenya, and India remain exceptions—countries where Trump’s messaging continues to inspire significant confidence.
📊 The Big Picture
While Trump’s image struggles to regain the global trust lost during his first term and the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pew report confirms a sharp ideological and regional divide. Confidence in U.S. leadership remains a moving target, influenced by gender, age, religion, and political alignment.
With the 2026 U.S. midterms approaching and Trump hinting at a more aggressive foreign policy agenda, these international perceptions could shape how America’s allies—and rivals—position themselves in global affairs.
📰 This story was brought to you by Newspot Nigeria, your trusted source for credible global news with a Nigerian lens.
