Canadians still have a more positive view of the United States and its president than three years ago, but their favorable view is down, a new poll suggests.
The Pew Research Center poll of 23 countries found that 57% of 1,007 Canadian respondents currently hold a favorable view of the United States, down six points from 2022.
That may be a far cry from the Donald Trump period low of 35% in 2020, but it’s also a far cry from the peak of 72% recorded in 2002 after the terrorist attacks in the United States.
But this poll also shows clear signs – in Canada and elsewhere – that the euphoria that greeted Joe Biden’s election victory in 2020 has turned from optimism to apprehension, at the start of his third year in the House- White.
“Our research this year reveals that international ratings for the United States are generally positive, but residents of the 23 countries surveyed are critical of the United States on some measures,” said Pew senior researcher Janell Fetterolf.
“While many say American society is similar to other wealthy countries, a notable portion believe the United States is less tolerant and a more dangerous place to live. »
The poll also found that Canadians trust President Biden less on international affairs: his “trust score” is 58% this year, down from 61% in 2022 — and 77% in 2021, the first year. of his presidency, or President Trump’s final year.
More than a quarter of Canadian respondents said they had “completely no confidence” in his handling of foreign affairs, up from 11% after he arrived in the White House two years earlier.
The interests of other countries
Additionally, 37% of respondents felt that the United States considers Canadian interests when making foreign policy decisions, up from 34% in 2021.
This is the highest percentage recorded in Canada since Pew conducted these polls in 2002. Indeed, the median response of respondents worldwide was almost evenly split 50-50 on this question, a marked change from sentiment, reported the Pew Research Center.
“The proportion of those who believe that the United States takes their respective country’s interests into account at least to a good extent in its policy decisions has increased significantly in many countries since the last time,” the survey found.
“The proportion of respondents who think this is higher today than it has been since 2002 in 12 countries, including Poland, Germany and the UK — three key US allies within NATO. »
These and other findings likely reflect the enormous influence of Mr. Biden and the United States following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022. In neighboring Poland alone, respondents gave the United States a 93% approval rating.
“Poland’s opinion of the United States improved considerably last year, after the start of the war in Ukraine, and remains high this year. »
Six in 10 respondents in Canada said the United States contributed to world peace and stability, compared to 39% who believed the opposite.
And when asked to identify the world’s largest economy, 44% of Canadian respondents chose the United States, compared to 40% who named China — a reversal from 2020, when China took away 47 to 36%.
Pew pollsters also asked respondents to rate the United States on a host of institutional measures, including technological achievements, entertainment, universities, military and standard of living.
Three in four Canadian respondents rated American entertainment — movies, music and television — as the best in the world, or better than that of other wealthy countries. On the other hand, only 25% have this favorable opinion of the standard of living south of the border.
The Canadian segment of this landline and cellphone survey was conducted from February 21 to April 15 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points. The survey was therefore conducted before and after Mr. Biden’s visit to Ottawa on March 24 — his first as US president.