Although the image of Donald Trump and the United States have collapsed in much of the world, Colombia appears as one of the few countries where the American president maintains some level of supportaccording to a new global survey from the Pew Research Center.
That support, however, is not the majority. While 43 percent of Colombians say they support Trump and his policies, another 55 percent express distrust.
In any case, the figure places Colombia among the countries where the American president receives best grades internationally and makes it the top rated foreign leader by Colombians among all those included in the study.
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The survey, carried out between February 8 and May 13 from this year to 42,151 people in 36 countriesportrays a strong deterioration of the international image both Trump and the United States. At a global level, only a median of the 23 percent express confidence in the Republican president, while the 74 percent reject it.
Donald Trump has implemented dozens of immigration measures that affect Colombians. Photo:EL TIEMPO / EFE / Illustration created with AI
The countries that show the greatest confidence in Trump and those that do not
Only four countries register a majority trust in Trump. The Philippines tops the list with 68 percent, followed by Israel with 66 percent, Nigeria with 65 percent and Kenya with 63 percent.
Ghana appears close behind with 54 percent. Colombia ranks seventh in the world with 43 percent, behind Hungary, which registers 44 percent.
At the opposite extreme are the West Bank and East Jerusalem, where only 4 percent trust Trump; Türkiye with 6 percent, Sweden with 11 percent, Mexico with 11 percent, Pakistan with 12 percent and Malaysia with 13 percent.
The position of Colombia stands out even more so when considering the latin american context. The country far exceeds Argentina (29%), Brazil (30%), Chili (28%), Mexico (11%) and Peru (31%).
Benjamin Netanyahu. Photo:EFE
General image of the US is going through one of its worst moments
The Pew report also found that the overall picture of the U.S. is in one of its toughest times in decades. A median of just 37 percent of respondents across the 36 countries have a favorable view of the country, while 57 percent express an unfavorable view.
In contrast to this trend, Colombia is once again among the exceptions. 60 percent of Colombians have a favorable opinion of the US.the highest number among the Latin American countries included in the study.
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They are followed by Peru with 51 percent, Brazil with 47 percent, Argentina with 44 percent, Mexico with 40 percent and Chile with 37 percent.
In Colombia, its best result is seen in international humanitarian aid Photo:Orlando SIERRA / AFP
Colombia and what it thinks of Trump
But the survey also reveals a more complex relationship. Although Colombians continue to see favorably to the USthe majority maintains reservations about Washington’s role in the world.
75 percent believe that the US interferes a lot or quite a bit in the internal affairs of other countries and just 37 percent think that the US government fully respects the personal freedoms of its own citizens.
The survey also asked about several of the main international policies promoted by Trump. In Colombia, its best result is observed in the international humanitarian aidwith approval from 56 percent. It also obtains a relatively high rating in the management of Venezuela, with 46 percent.
However, the numbers are much lower on other issues. Only 29 percent approve of his tariff policy, 28 percent of his handling of Iran, 27 percent of his management of the war between Russia and Ukraine, 26 percent of his handling of immigration and the conflict in Gaza, and 22 percent of his initiatives related to Greenland.
In global termsthe results are even worse. Just a median of 18 percent approve the way Trump has handled the Tariffs and the conflict in Gaza. Only the 20 percent support his performance against Iran and the war between Russia and Ukrainewhile 22 percent approve of his policy towards Venezuela.
One of the most striking findings of the study is that Colombia is one of the few countries in which Trump surpasses other world leaders included in the survey in popularity.
Colombia is one of the few countries where Trump surpasses other leaders in popularity. Photo:EL TIEMPO Archive / AFP and EFE Agencies
He 43 percent of Colombians express confidence in Trump in front of other leaders such as the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky (37%); the French president, Emmanuel Macron (33%)the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping (30%); the russian president Vladimir Putin (28%) or the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu (22%).
At a global level, exactly the opposite occurs. Trump obtains a median trust of 23 percent, below Macron (43 percent), Zelensky (35 percent), Xi Jinping (34 percent) and Putin (31 percent). Only Netanyahu registers a lower figure, 18 percent.
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The United States falls in perception of international trust
The study also documents a sharp decline in international trust in the US as a reliable ally. In Canada, for example, the proportion of people who consider the US a good partner rose from 83 percent in 2022, during Joe Biden’s presidency, to 35 percent this year.
In Germany it fell from 83 to 39 percent; in the Netherlands from 88 to 41 percent; in Sweden from 83 to 31 percent; and in Australia from 79 to 37 percent.
Europe appears as the most critical region. In the ten European countries analyzed, only a median of 19 percent express confidence in Trump. Sweden has one of the worst figures, with just 11 percent, followed by the Netherlands and France with 15 percent, Germany with 16 percent and Italy with 17 percent.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Photo:AFP
Pew also points out that the perception of The US as a promoter of global peace and stability has deteriorated significantly. Only a median of 35 percent consider that the country contributes to global stabilitywhich represents a steep drop compared to measurements carried out during the Biden administration.
The perceived health of American democracy has also deteriorated. Just a median of 39 percent believe the government respects the personal freedoms of its citizens, while 56 percent believe it does not.
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Taken together, the results show a significant erosion of the international image of the United States and its president. Colombia does not completely escape this trend, but it does stand out as a relative exception.
Although the majority of Colombians do not trust Trump, the support he receives is considerably higher than in most of the countries surveyed. At the same time, the United States maintains levels of favorability in Colombia that contrast with the marked deterioration of its image in much of the rest of the world.
SERGIO GÓMEZ MASERI – EL TIEMPO Correspondent – Washington – @sergom68
