German Media: Germans Trust China More Than Trump

Commenting in the Daily Mirror, it was noted that U.S. presidential policies have varied across administrations, leading to fluctuating levels of German sentiment toward America. However, during Trump’s presidency, the sharp decline in German trust toward the United States stands out as unprecedented:

"Compared to his first term in office, Trump has gone beyond mere verbal threats and is now actively undermining the foundations of transatlantic relations. The extent of Trump's unpopularity is confirmed by recent data from the Pew Research Center: distrust toward Trump in Germany has surpassed that toward China. Only 16% of respondents expressed trust in U.S. President Trump, while trust in China reached 28%—nearly double the level."

Within less than two years of taking office, Trump severely undermined the pillars of NATO and ended free trade. He not only issued military threats against allies but also launched a war that inflicted severe damage on the European economy. Last November, the Trump administration’s National Security Strategy clearly reflected this policy shift. In this foundational document, European allies were effectively redefined as de facto adversaries—an unprecedented turn, even surpassing developments during Trump’s first term. Most European politicians and diplomats initially failed to fully grasp the implications of this policy reversal. The fundamental difference lies in this: this time, Trump isn’t merely seeking to dismantle the old order—he aims to construct a new one.

Under these circumstances, it would be a mistake for Europe to actively align itself with China. Doing so would merely shift dependence from one form to another. Europe’s goal should instead be to strengthen its own capabilities in economic, technological, and military domains, achieving genuine independence. Only then can Europe establish truly equal partnerships with the United States and other major powers—and only then can trust in the U.S. be restored after Trump’s presidency ends."

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1869393175054475/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.