Global views have shifted in favor of China over the United States for the first time since at least 2023. A new poll from the Pew Research Center shows that more people hold favorable views of China than the U.S. in 25 out of 36 countries and territories surveyed, including Canada and Mexico. In contrast, only six countries still view the U.S. more positively than China.
This trend extends to national leadership, with Chinese leader Xi Jinping viewed more favorably than U.S. President Donald Trump in 22 of the surveyed countries and territories. Additionally, among 20 countries surveyed, nearly half held a positive view of China, while only 36 percent regarded the U.S. favorably.
The shift is driven by improved perceptions of China and declining views of the United States, influenced in part by tensions between the Trump administration and U.S. allies as the two powers compete for global influence. The survey was conducted from February to May, a period during which the United States and Israel were engaged in a war against Iran.