Western European publics are shifting decisively away from the United States, prioritizing European autonomy and values over the transatlantic alliance, according to fresh polling that shows U.S. favorability at its lowest level since YouGov began tracking it nearly a decade ago. The data highlights the widening geopolitical rift between Washington and its traditional European partners — a trend accelerated by President Donald Trump’s aggressive push to exert influence in Greenland and growing doubts about American leadership on Ukraine.
Sharp Decline in Favorability Across Key Western European States
A YouGov European tracker survey conducted in Britain, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy and Spain from January 9–27, 2026, shows unfavourable views of the U.S. surging to historic highs:
- Denmark: 84% hold an unfavourable view
- France: 62% unfavourable
- Broad majorities in Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK also report negative perceptions, marking a significant rise from November 2025 levels — when unfavourability ranged from roughly 49% to 70%.
The Greenland controversy — where President Trump renewed U.S. interest in acquiring control or influence over the autonomous Danish territory — appears to be a tipping point, especially in Denmark, where traditional pro-U.S. sentiment has collapsed. Only about 26% of Danes now see the U.S. as a friend or ally, down from 80% in mid-2023.
Independent Danish polling also suggests that a majority now view the United States as an adversary rather than an ally, with roughly 60% describing the U.S. that way and just 17% still considering it an ally.
Trump’s Personal Unpopularity Reinforces Anti-American Sentiment
Separate YouGov data from January 2026 shows Donald Trump’s approval ratings in Europe are extremely low across major Western states:
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Denmark: 4% favourable, 94% unfavourable
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Germany: 11% favourable, 84% unfavourable
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France: 18% favourable, 76% unfavourable
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UK: 16% favourable, 81% unfavourable
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Italy & Spain: roughly 15–19% favourable, around 77–78% unfavourable
These figures not only capture deep personal disapproval of the U.S. president among ordinary Europeans but also reflect broader discomfort with Washington’s unpredictable foreign policy direction under Trump.
Europeans Reconsider Transatlantic Alliance But Still Depend on U.S. Power
The YouGov survey found that large segments of the European public agree with some of the Trump administration’s critiques — that Europe has been overly dependent on the U.S. for defense (59–74% agree across countries) and too permissive on immigration (52–63%). Yet Europeans reject other U.S. talking points, including claims about excessive European limits on free speech and unfair trade practices.
Despite the backlash, most Europeans still see the United States as economically, diplomatically and militarily stronger than Europe, and a majority believe Europe’s security and prosperity continue to rely on American engagement. However, the Greenland dispute appears to have crystallized a new public consensus: between 41% and 55% across the six countries now think that strengthening European autonomy should take precedence over preserving the transatlantic alliance.
Ukraine Support Weakening Amid Transatlantic Strain
Polls tracking European public opinion on the war in Ukraine — traditionally a major point of alignment with U.S. policy — show waning support as well. A YouGov survey at the end of 2025 found that Britain stood out as the only Western state where nearly half of respondents wanted to support Ukraine until full victory, while in other major countries a negotiated end to the conflict — even with Russia retaining territory — became increasingly acceptable. Moreover, significant shares of Europeans now suspect that President Trump may prefer Russia to prevail.
These trends underscore how Europe’s confidence in U.S. reliability as a security partner is faltering at a critical geostrategic juncture. Data indicate that in the event of a worsening transatlantic relationship, many Europeans would support bolstering their own defense capabilities rather than leaning on the U.S. — a major shift from past strategic thinking.
Conclusion: Geopolitical Realignment in the Making
The latest polling reveals that the transatlantic bond is under unprecedented strain, with emotive flashpoints like Greenland and substantive policy disagreements over defense and foreign engagements such as Ukraine contributing to eroding U.S. influence. While many Europeans still recognize the utility of close cooperation with Washington, a growing share now favors greater European autonomy and even institutional integration within the EU.
As the United States confronts these shifting attitudes, its leadership in Europe — long a cornerstone of global strategy — faces one of the most serious credibility challenges in decades.