From Leader to Laggard: How Trump’s Election Reshaped Global Perceptions of the USA
His administration’s often combative and dismissive approach was a sharp break from the United States post-World War II tradition of leading through cooperation and diplomacy.
4 min readDec 10, 2024
From Leader to Laggard: How Trump’s Election Reshaped Global Perceptions of the USA
When Donald Trump won the presidency in 2016, he pledged to redefine America’s role on the global stage. Under the “America First” banner, Trump prioritized U.S. interests above longstanding alliances, trade agreements, and international norms. His administration’s often combative and dismissive approach was a sharp break from the United States post-1945 tradition of leading through cooperation and diplomacy.
The outcome?
A notable decline in global opinion of the U.S., strained alliances, and a step back from multilateral engagement.
The Erosion of Trust: A Global Shift in Opinion
Before Trump, the U.S. was widely regarded as a stabilizing power promoting democratic values.
