Recent global reactions show the world’s diminishing respect for American leadership, particularly following Trump’s 2024 election victory and subsequent actions in 2025.

International polling reveals a dramatic decline in America’s global standing, with only 46% of people across 29 countries believing the US will have a positive influence on world affairs, down from 59% just months earlier[1]. Even in Canada, traditionally a close ally, positive views of the US plummeted from 52% to just 19%[1:1].

Trump’s 58-minute UN speech in September 2025 drew stony faces from world leaders, a stark contrast to previous years when delegates would laugh at his claims[2]. According to body language expert Peter Collett, “People are taking it much more seriously. Whereas formerly it was a source of amusement when he puffed himself up, now almost everything he has to say has to be taken seriously”[2:1].

The administration’s policies have further eroded America’s standing. Massive tariffs imposed on nearly 70 countries have disrupted global trade[3], while Trump’s stance on immigration and inflammatory rhetoric about other nations has alienated allies. At the UN, Brazilian President Lula warned of “attacks on sovereignty, arbitrary sanctions and unilateral interventions” becoming the norm[4].

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez emerged as a leading European voice opposing American policies, defending migration and open societies while warning about “the door to tyranny”[4:1]. Meanwhile, Indonesian President Subianto received applause at the UN for declaring “No one country can bully the whole of the human family”[4:2].


  1. Ipsos - America’s reputation drops across the world ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. DW - Trump’s UN speech no laughing matter as body language shows ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. Yahoo News - Trump Rants About Countries Laughing at America ↩︎

  4. The Guardian - Trump’s UN speech makes it clear: the world can no longer look to the US for strong leadership ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  • BarrelsBallot@lemmygrad.ml
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    8 hours ago

    Americans are lazy, entitled, and careless- that much is indisputable fact. But it is also true that these characteristics are acculturated and not individual moral failings.

    We are long away from a general strike in the US given the attitude of the average american and the complete lack of class consciousness / solidarity. What’s likely is that the Dems will seize some electoral power back, and much of the current political fervor will die- as it usually does. And then the republican party, emboldened by Trump proving that they can just do whatever they want, will come back with a competent figurehead.

    The idea of an impending civil war is very optimistic given the fact that there’s been 0 opposition to right wing policy or even the recent city wide military occupations. We have a militarized fascist force quite literally kidnapping people from their jobs and homes while the most heavily armed populace in the world stands back and watches, slacked jawed- and I’m supposed to believe there will be a domestic war? This is a bridge I will not buy.

    Conditions will have to get much worse in the united states before people finally take meaningful action (non electoral, potentially violent), the good news is that we have 3 more years for that reality to come to pass and Trumps bad optics (the only thing that actually bothers americans) are bringing the future’s inevitability to today’s doorstep.

    • folaht@lemmy.ml
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      2 hours ago

      As much as that would make sense considering the pace of previous years, I completely disagree with you that there will be another 4 years of relative calm with a Democrat President.

      The US economy is heading towards a depression this year and a the only Roosevelt in sight is Zohran Mamdani who has little chance to win. The next Democrat, barring a fascist takeover, will likely be yet another liberal, followed by a Republican. So too little, too late.

      • BarrelsBallot@lemmygrad.ml
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        1 hour ago

        There will not be relative calm but it will stamp out much of the fervor the masses have right now, brunch will be back

        Even if Zohran the Zionist were the pale of water many hope him to be, he would just be buying american capitalism more time- much like FDR. It has to burn

    • Maeve@kbin.earth
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      6 hours ago

      the good news is that we have 3 more years for that reality to come to pass and Trumps bad optics (the only thing that actually bothers americans) are bringing the future’s inevitability to today’s doorstep.

      Optimist, are you? ♥️