U.S. Foreign Policy and Allies

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.