European Citizens Turn Their Backs on Donald Trump Amid His Attacks on Europe

Recent attacks by Donald Trump towards Europe, along with his high-profile meeting at the White House with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, appear to have significantly damaged his popularity in several EU countries. Notably, over half of French and German citizens (59%) and British citizens (56%) now refer to Trump as a ‘dictator,’ according to a new survey conducted by the Destin commun think tank. This sentiment is shared by 47% of those surveyed in Poland, as the American president attempts to impose a peace agreement between Kyiv and Moscow. The poll, published on Saturday, comes amid intense criticism from Trump directed at Ukraine. Around 35% of the French surveyed said they felt more sympathy for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after his tumultuous meeting with Trump in Washington at the end of February. Only 9% said they sympathize with him less now. Moreover, only one-quarter of the French continue to view the U.S. as allies, while more than half (57%) struggle to define their relationship. Regarding the prospect of war in Europe in the coming years, six out of ten French people (60%) believe it’s possible that Russia could invade other European countries, compared to 68% in the UK and Poland, and 53% in Germany. Almost eight out of ten French respondents (76%) express concern or significant concern about an expansion of the conflict in Europe within the next few years. Additionally, Polish and British citizens favor continuing support for Ukraine even without U.S. backing, with 66%, while in France this percentage is 57%, and in Germany, it’s 54%. There’s no consensus regarding potential peacekeeping missions following a peace agreement. A favorable opinion exists among 57% of respondents in the UK, 44% in France, 41% in Germany, and just 27% in Poland. Six out of ten French people (61%) support reinstating some form of mandatory military service, with higher approval among older age groups. Meanwhile, Trump faces a potential government shutdown as Republicans propose a six-month funding extension to avoid financial paralysis until September. The House is expected to vote on Tuesday on the 99-page bill, crafted in close cooperation with the White House. Trump urged all parties to pass the bill to keep the government operational until September to manage the country’s finances effectively.