A comprehensive new survey conducted by the Pew Research Center has revealed significant shifts in global perceptions of world leaders, with Russian President Vladimir Putin emerging as the most trusted figure among Indians. According to the report, 51 percent of Indian respondents expressed confidence in Putin's leadership on the international stage. In contrast, trust in United States President Donald Trump has seen a notable decline within the country. The survey, which gathered opinions from 42,151 individuals across 36 nations between February 8 and May 13, 2026, indicates a broader trend of skepticism toward American foreign policy and leadership under the current administration.
Indian Trust Ratings for Global Leaders
The findings highlight a diverse range of opinions among the Indian public regarding various international figures. While Vladimir Putin secured the top spot with 51 percent support, Donald Trump followed with 39 percent. Other leaders also featured in the survey, though with lower levels of confidence, while israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received trust from 34 percent of Indians, while French President Emmanuel Macron was trusted by 33 percent. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy saw a trust rating of 29 percent, and Chinese President Xi Jinping was at the bottom of this specific list with 25 percent support from the Indian respondents. This data suggests that Indian public opinion is currently more aligned with the Russian leadership than with other major global powers.
Reasons for the Decline in Trump's Popularity in India
The survey highlights a sharp decline in Donald Trump's popularity in India compared to the previous year. In 2025, 51 percent of Indians expressed trust in Trump, but that figure has plummeted to 39 percent in 2026, marking a 12 percentage point drop in just one year. The report attributes this decline to several controversial policies. Only 32 percent of Indians supported Trump's immigration policies, while his stance on Iran was backed by only 28 percent. His policy toward Venezuela saw even lower support at 17 percent. Also, Indians expressed dissatisfaction with the decision to shut down international aid agencies like USAID, as well as Trump's handling of the Gaza conflict and the Russia-Ukraine war. The imposition of tariffs on other countries also contributed to the negative sentiment.
Shifting Image of the United States in India
For the first time in nearly 20 years, the positive perception of the United States in India has seen a significant downturn. The report recalls that in 2005, during the height of the Iraq war, the US maintained a 71 percent positive rating in India despite global criticism. However, the current survey suggests that this long-standing positive image is fading. Globally, the sentiment is similarly grim, with 76 percent of people across 36 countries stating they've no confidence in Trump's global leadership, while only 23 percent expressed trust in his international decision-making. On average, only 32 percent of people worldwide believe that the US considers the interests of other countries when formulating its foreign policy.
Global Perspectives and Regional Variations
While Trump's popularity has waned in many regions, Israel remains a notable exception. In Israel, 81 percent of people hold a positive view of the US, and 66 percent trust Trump's international decisions. In contrast, Europe shows very low levels of support. In Germany, only 16 percent of people trust Trump, which is nearly identical to the 15 percent who trust Putin and the 15 percent who trust Netanyahu. However, 72 percent of Germans expressed confidence in French President Emmanuel Macron. In the West Bank and East Jerusalem, support for Trump is almost non-existent at 4 percent, while Netanyahu stands at 2 percent. Interestingly, about 4 out of 10 people in these Palestinian territories expressed trust in Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. Overall, the survey underscores a period of significant transition in international politics where the policies of major leaders are directly impacting their global standing.