Western Europeans prize Europe’s autonomy and values over transatlantic ties and will not give them up to placate Donald Trump, according to a poll suggesting opinions of the US have plunged to their lowest since YouGov began tracking them a decade ago.
The US president’s attempted Greenland grab has succeeded in turning Europeans solidly against his country, the pollster’s latest survey found. Large majorities in Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Great Britain all declared an unfavourable opinion.
The figures, ranging from 62% in France to 84% in Denmark – of which Greenland is a self-governing territory – mark a further steep rise in negative perceptions of the US even since November, when the range was between 49% and 70%.
The polling also showed that in ever-increasing numbers, Europeans no longer see the US as a friendly nation, with fewer respondents in all six countries saying they still consider it an ally.
Those numbers represented a sharp fall since the last poll in which YouGov asked the same question. Denmark, where unfavourable opinions of the US increased the most, also recorded the greatest change in this area: in July 2023, 80% of Danes said they saw the US as a friend or ally. Now, fewer than 26% do.
The survey showed that Europeans tend to agree with the Trump administration’s diagnosis that Europe has been too reliant on the US for defence (59-74%), allowed too much immigration (52-63%), and been too hesitant on the world stage (45-62%).
However, they strongly disagree with the repeated US claim that European governments are excessively restrictive on free speech (18-31%), and fewer still share Trump’s view that the EU has been unfair in its trade dealings with the US (10-17%).
Several European political leaders have called for the EU to exercise its considerable economic clout in its dealings with the US, but the survey showed most respondents felt the US was stronger than Europe economically, diplomatically and militarily.
Moreover, between 63% and 78% believe Europe’s defence and peace still rely on the US, with 49%-64% feeling the same way about their continent’s prosperity. Most, unsurprisingly, think a breakdown in EU-US relations would be bad for Europe.
Nonetheless, the dispute over Greenland appears to have focused western European minds: the most widely held view in all countries (41%-55%) was that European autonomy should now be prioritised over preserving the transatlantic alliance.
Nor are western Europeans prepared to sacrifice very much in order to preserve good relations with the US. The only thing respondents in all countries surveyed said they would be willing to do is reduce immigration – a goal most support anyway.
Respondents in Great Britain, Denmark, France and Germany – but not in Spain or Italy – would also be willing to boost national defence spending to keep the US on side, while Danes and Britons are more willing than not to greatly increase aid to Ukraine.
However, Europeans are generally unwilling to ease restrictions on hate speech, adopt a US-approved international trade policy, agree trade deals more favourable to the US than Europe, cover the cost of US armed forces in Europe, or disband the EU.
Despite European leaders warning that “the world has changed permanently”, the poll suggests that many Europeans (from 39% in Germany to 57% in Denmark) still believe US foreign policy will “revert to normal” once Trump has left the scene.
If the transatlantic relationship does break down, most respondents (except those in Italy) backed higher defence spending. They were more divided on boosting aid to Ukraine, and few (20-31%) wanted Europe to forge closer relations with other major powers.
By contrast there was broad support, if EU-US ties sour, for more political integration in Europe, giving the EU greater powers and decision-making capacity. Between 46% and 63% support this, significantly more than those who oppose it.
