Half of Europeans View Trump as a Threat, New survey reveals
BRUSSELS – A new pan-European survey reveals that roughly half of respondents across nine countries perceive Donald Trump as an “enemy of Europe,” highlighting deep-seated anxieties about the potential impact of a return to power for the former U.S. president. The findings, released today, underscore a growing sense of vulnerability and a desire for greater European self-reliance amid perceived threats ranging from military aggression to technological insecurity.
The survey,conducted by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR),found that 51% of respondents consider Trump to be an adversary,while 34% see him as a partner or not a threat. This perception is notably strong in countries closer to Russia, where concerns about geopolitical instability are heightened. The results come as the U.S. and Europe grapple with ongoing conflicts and shifting alliances, raising questions about the future of transatlantic relations.
Views on the risk of war varied considerably across the surveyed nations, with 77% of respondents in Poland believing the risk to be high, compared to 54% in France, 51% in Germany, 39% in Portugal, and 34% in Italy.Confidence in national military capabilities to defend against Russian aggression was low across the board, with 69% of respondents stating their country was “not realy” or “not at all” capable. Even in France, the most confident nation surveyed, only 44% expressed belief in their military’s ability to defend against Russia.
“We are entering an age of danger while feeling a persistent sense of national weakness,” said ECFR fellow, Jana Dormagen.
The survey also revealed widespread feelings of vulnerability to a range of threats, with only 12% of respondents reporting they did not feel particularly threatened by insecurity stemming from technological, military, energy, and food sources. Tech and digital security was the most frequently cited threat (28%),followed by military security (25%). A strong majority (69%) believe the European Union should play a protective role.
Despite these anxieties, support for EU membership remains high, with 74% of respondents wanting their country to remain in the bloc. Support was highest in Portugal (90%) and Spain (89%), and lowest in Poland (68%) and France (61%).
Five years after the UK’s departure, Brexit is overwhelmingly viewed as a failure: 63% believe it has negatively impacted Britain, while only 19% see it as positive, including just 5% who view it as “very positive.”
