American President Donald Trump is unpopular in Europe, including among voters of right-wing populist parties, which his administration sees as strategic allies, according to a new Politico poll conducted in partnership with the Public First institute.
According to the survey, conducted in early December on a sample of over 10,000 respondents from five countries, only about a third of supporters of right-wing populist parties in France and Germany have a favorable opinion of Donald Trump. The highest level of support is recorded in the United Kingdom, where 50% of respondents close to the Reform UK party stated that they view the White House leader favorably.
The data come in the context of the Trump administration recently presenting a new national security strategy aimed at cultivating „the growing influence of patriotic European parties” gaining ground in France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, without having achieved decisive electoral victories.
The poll suggests that getting closer to Donald Trump could pose a risk for right-wing European parties trying to expand their electoral base.
In the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, voters who say they would currently vote for these parties have a more unfavorable opinion of Trump than those who supported them in the past.
At the general population level, the image of the American president is even worse.
In France and Germany, about two-thirds of respondents stated they have a negative opinion about Trump. In the United Kingdom, the percentage is 55%, slightly above the level in the United States, where 50% of respondents have a negative opinion. The highest rejection is recorded in Canada, with 72% unfavorable opinions.
Even among supporters of the right-wing populist parties explicitly mentioned in the American strategy, support for Trump remains limited.
In France, more voters of Marine Le Pen's National Rally party have a negative opinion about Trump (38%) than a positive one (30%). In Germany, supporters of the Alternative for Germany party are divided: 34% view him favorably, and 33% unfavorably.
Political distancing from the White House
The results highlight the challenges faced by the National Rally, which is trying to attract a broader electorate ahead of next year's local elections and the 2027 presidential election. Its leaders, however, have been quick to reject the idea of support from Washington.
Jordan Bardella told The Telegraph that he rejects "vassalage" towards "a big brother like Trump." In turn, Thierry Mariani, a member of the party's leadership, stated to Politico: "Trump treats us like a colony (...) especially economically and politically."
The notable exception remains in the United Kingdom, where 79% of Reform UK supporters have a favorable opinion of party leader Nigel Farage, and Trump enjoys slightly majority support.
"America First" and the limits of political alignment
In France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, far-right voters stand out for their strong demand that political leaders prioritize national interests.
Half of National Rally voters, 47% of AfD supporters, and 45% of Reform UK supporters consider this trait essential.
The overwhelming majority of them believe that Donald Trump embodies this approach better than European leaders, and a clear majority state they want their leaders to maintain good relations with the American president.
However, this affinity has its limits. "Supporters of right-wing parties in Europe clearly want their leaders to put their own country first and may see Trump as a champion of this idea," said Jules Walkden, a research manager at Public First. "But once in power, the practical demands of the promise 'country first' can quickly reveal the limits of this alignment."
The data show that far-right voters may admire Trump's policies, but they do not fully trust him. In France and Germany, they are more likely to believe that Trump's policies benefit the United States but harm other countries.
At the same time, they are more inclined to support protecting the national industry, even at the expense of global competitiveness. Nearly 72% of AfD voters, 71% of National Rally supporters, and 67% of Reform UK supporters indicated this position.
Regarding the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on the European industry, reactions are nuanced. In Germany, 65% of AfD voters consider the tariffs harmful to the economy, but only 37% support trade reprisals. In the United Kingdom, only 45% of Reform UK supporters see tariffs as a negative thing.
In France, however, 60% of National Rally voters believe that American tariffs are harmful to the French economy, and 48% support retaliatory measures, indicating that the appreciation for Donald Trump is not unconditional.
The poll was conducted between December 5 and 9, on a sample of 10,510 adults from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. The results are weighted to be nationally representative, with a margin of error of ±2% for each country.