Mohammad Mahdi Abbasi, researcher in the field of American Studies
The summer of 2025 marks a world in flux, where the United States no longer holds the uncontested dominance it once commanded. Today, America grapples with deep internal crises: Political polarization, economic instability, and racial unrest. On the global stage, it faces even graver challenges: eroding public trust, declining reputation worldwide, and the gradual estrangement of its traditional allies.
Under Donald Trump’s second presidential term, this downward trajectory has accelerated. From overt support for the Zionist regime in the Gaza genocide and active involvement in a 12-day war with Iran to the adoption of threatening policies toward various nations, America’s global image has darkened significantly.
- America’s global reputation is declining
According to a recent 2025 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center across 24 countries, only 49% of respondents hold a positive view of the United States. This figure marks a sharp drop from the over 60% approval rating recorded at the end of Biden’s administration, underscoring a steep decline in global trust and goodwill toward America. In several notable countries including Canada, Mexico, Germany, and Sweden, the share of favorable opinions toward the US has plummeted by more than 20 percentage points.
Moreover, only 24% of people in these countries express confidence in Trump’s leadership, one of the lowest levels of trust compared to leaders of other global powers.
Despite this, the United States maintains its position atop the Global Soft Power Index, scoring 79.5 out of 100 in the category of “structural power.” However, in terms of Reputation, America has slipped four places, now ranking fifteenth.
- Global perception of America as a threat
A notable consequence of Washington’s recent policies has been a growing perception of the United States as an international threat. According to the Pew Research Center, among roughly 25 countries surveyed, the United States is identified as the primary threat in eight countries. In Canada, 68% of respondents regard the US as a threat to their economy and stability; in Mexico, this figure stands at 59%. Across Europe, Americans are increasingly seen as less trustworthy actors, whose international decisions may bring instability and uncertainty.
For instance, a recent YouGov poll in Denmark reveals that nearly half of the population considers the United States as a serious threat to their country; surpassing those who consider Iran or North Korea a comparable danger.
Similarly, in France, the ELABE Institute reports that 73% of the French population believes the United States is no longer an ally of France. These statistics highlight that even America’s traditional and longstanding allies are distancing themselves as a result of current US government policies.
- The Gaza war and the decline of Washington’s credibility
The United States’ involvement in the ongoing genocide perpetrated by the Zionist regime in Gaza, now approaching two years in duration, has provoked a sharp surge of public hatred toward America, especially throughout the Arab world. Polls indicate that 82% of people in Arab countries rate US policy in the Gaza war as “very bad,” with an additional 12% calling it “bad.” Moreover, 76% of respondents reported that their opinion of the United States has worsened since the war began.
Even within the US, support for Israel has become increasingly fractured. According to a Gallup poll, only 32% of Americans back Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Support among younger generations (under 35 years old) has plummeted to less than 10%, marking the lowest level recorded to date.
- The 12-day war between Iran and the Zionist regime: A turning point in public outrage
In June 2025, a 12-day war erupted between Iran and the Zionist regime, marked by the direct involvement and logistical support of the United States for Israel. During the war, a YouGov poll in the United States revealed that 85% of Americans opposed US military intervention in the war, with only 5% in favor.
In the aftermath of the war, widespread anti-American and anti-Israeli protests erupted in major cities worldwide, including London, New York, Beirut, and Baghdad. Demonstrators chanted slogans such as “No War for Israel” and “Hands off Iran.” The international network, particularly social media, reflected broad global support for Iran and widespread condemnation of the Zionist regime and the Trump administration.
- The decline of tourism: Another sign of America’s isolation
Another tangible indicator of America’s waning reputation is the significant drop in international tourism to the United States. In the first quarter of 2025, inbound foreign tourism to the US declined by 12% to 33% compared to the same period the previous year.
A Financial Times report highlights a 30% decrease in travel from European countries such as Germany, the United Kingdom, and Ireland to the US. In Canada, a survey conducted by the Angus Reid Institute shows that 56% of those who had planned trips to the US have either canceled or altered their plans. Additionally, land crossings from Canada into the US dropped by 23% in March alone, jeopardizing at least 14,000 jobs in the American tourism industry.
In conclusion, the decline of America’s global standing can no longer be regarded merely as an analysis or prediction; it is now a verified fact substantiated by concrete data and evidence.
As Imam Khamenei stated on November 3, 2018:
“America’s soft-power is declining and disappearing. This is not my claim; this is a claim which has been put forward by well-known social scientists. America’s moral and soft power is declining.”
America’s reputation has waned, global trust has eroded, and its moral standing has darkened under the shadow of its unwavering support for the Zionist regime and its interventions in various wars. In a world where soft power outweighs the importance of weapons, the United States is evidently losing the invaluable capital it spent decades cultivating: the trust of the world’s public opinion.
(The views expressed in this article are author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of Khamenei.ir.)
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