President Donald Trump’s attacks on world leaders have inadvertently boosted their approval ratings, as other countries rally around their leaders in opposition to the external threat posed by the Trump administration. Leaders such as outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have seen increases in their popularity following interactions with Trump. Zelenskyy’s trustworthiness among Ukrainians rose from 57 per cent to 67 per cent after a period that saw Trump call him a dictator and culminated in a disastrous meeting between the two leaders. Macron and Starmer, who were relatively unpopular at home, have also seen small boosts in their approval ratings as they deal with Trump.
Trump’s tariff threats and annexation rhetoric have led to a rise in approval ratings for leaders such as Trudeau in Canada and Claudia Sheinbaum in Mexico. Trudeau’s Liberal Party pulled slightly ahead of the Conservatives, with Trudeau’s personal approval ratings increasing from 22 per cent to 34 per cent. Sheinbaum reached her highest approval rating ever at 85 per cent following Trump’s threats. This phenomenon of a ‘rally around the flag’ bump in approval ratings during times of national threat or crisis is not new, with examples such as George W. Bush after 9/11 and George H.W. Bush during the Gulf War. The Democratic Party in the US, however, has not seen a polling bump amid Trump’s attacks, with low approval ratings compared to the Republicans.
The wave of resentment against incumbents and desire for change that swept many world leaders into office last year was also seen in the US with Trump’s presidency. Leaders like Starmer, Macron, and ruling parties in South Korea and Japan rode this wave into power, while others, such as former German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s party, saw significant losses in parliamentary support. Ontario Premier Doug Ford was able to secure re-election with the fear and anger over Trump playing a part. The impact of Trump on the global political landscape is significant, with voters reassessing politicians who share his populist rhetoric after seeing the effects of his policies in action. The test for new incumbents, like Mark Carney who recently won the Liberal leadership in Canada, will be whether they can stand up to Trump’s attacks.
Carney, who vowed to take on Trump as prime minister, is positioned to appeal to voters who want a leader that will challenge Trump rather than submit to his demands. Polls have shown that voters prefer a leader who will stand up to Trump rather than emulate his policies. While Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre was ranked as the best leader to deal with Trump in a survey, a significant portion of respondents believed he would simply accept whatever Trump demands. The question remains whether voters want a leader who sounds and acts like Trump during the campaign to govern in a similar manner. The impact of Trump on global politics has sparked a reassessment of populist rhetoric and policies, with voters scrutinizing politicians through the lens of Trump’s presidency.
Overall, Trump’s attacks on world leaders have inadvertently bolstered their approval ratings as other countries rally around their leaders in response to the perceived external threat posed by the Trump administration. This phenomenon has been observed in various leaders, such as Trudeau, Zelenskyy, Macron, and Starmer, who have seen increases in their popularity after interactions with Trump. The global political landscape has been influenced by Trump’s presidency, with voters reassessing politicians who share his populist rhetoric and policies in light of his actions. The upcoming test for new incumbents, like Carney, will be whether they can effectively stand up to Trump’s attacks and maintain their support among the electorate.
