Gallup Poll Shows U.S. Republicans Sour on Canada and Britain Amid Trump Clashes

5d 1 source 4 relevant data

A new Gallup World Affairs poll, reported by Axios, finds Americans’ positive views of Canada and Great Britain have fallen to their lowest levels since the 1980s, with the sharpest drops among Republicans over the 12 months through February 2026. Canada’s favorability among Republicans plunged from 85% to 62%, and Republican warmth toward Britain fell to 64%, 18 points below the prior record low, while Democrats’ views of both allies remain overwhelmingly positive. The shift comes as President Donald Trump has repeatedly berated Canadian and British leaders, launched tariff fights, raised annexation talk and most recently criticized U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer for initially limiting U.S. use of British bases in strikes on Iran, deriding the U.K. on Truth Social as “our once Great Ally.” Gallup notes that Japan and Italy now rank highest in U.S. favorability, with Canada only tied for third alongside Denmark, even as Canada and the U.K. remain broadly popular overall. Parallel polling in Canada and Britain shows the chill is mutual: a February Politico–Public First survey found most Canadians doubt the U.S. is a reliable ally and nearly 7 in 10 see Trump as seeking conflict, while Ipsos data show belief in a “special relationship” in Britain has slid sharply since 2024. The findings highlight how Trump’s confrontations with traditional partners are reshaping rank‑and‑file American views of core NATO and G7 allies at the very moment those alliances are being tested by the Iran war and global trade strains.

U.S. Foreign Policy and Allies Donald Trump

📌 Key Facts

Gallup telephone poll of 1,001 U.S. adults was conducted February 2–16, 2026, with a ±4 percentage‑point margin of error.
Republican favorability toward Canada dropped from 85% to 62% in the prior 12 months; Republican favorability toward Great Britain fell to 64%, 18 points below the previous record low.
Independents’ favorable views slipped to 72% for Britain (from 77%) and 80% for Canada (from 89%), while Democrats’ favorability stayed very high: 95% for Canada and 89% for Britain.
Gallup now finds Japan and Italy rated most favorably by Americans, with Canada tied with Denmark for third.
Axios links the opinion shifts to Trump’s trade disputes with Canada, his public attacks on Canadian and British leaders, and his recent criticism of U.K. limits on U.S. use of British bases for Iran strikes.

📊 Relevant Data

37% of White Americans support the war in Iran, compared to 7% of Black Americans.

What Americans think of the war in Iran — The Conversation

21% of Americans aged 18-29 support the war in Iran, compared to 40% of those over 65.

What Americans think of the war in Iran — The Conversation

Tariffs pose greater economic risks to Black households, including higher job losses at the onset of downturns and disproportionate cost increases due to regressive burdens on lower-income groups.

The Republican Agenda’s Triple Threat to Black Households’ Economic Well-Being — Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

Hispanic workers have been disproportionately harmed by trade shocks, such as those from tariffs and import competition.

Tariffs, Workers, and Democracy — Urban Institute