Canadian Perspectives on the United States and Its Leadership Reach Historic Lows

A comprehensive survey reveals that Canadian attitudes toward the United States and its president have declined to their lowest levels in over two decades of polling, reflecting significant shifts in cross-border perceptions during a period of heightened bilateral tensions.

Survey Overview and Context

The findings emerge from a survey of 1,024 Canadian adults conducted between February 19 and April 15, 2025. The polling period coincided with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney taking office and followed Trump’s announcement of initial tariffs against Canada, China, and Mexico, providing crucial context for the deteriorating sentiment.

Declining Favorable Views of the United States

Canadian opinions of the United States have reached their most negative point since polling began in 2002:

Overall Favorability

• Only 34% of Canadians currently hold a favorable opinion of the United States
• This represents a dramatic 20 percentage point decline from the previous year
• The current figure ties with the 35% recorded in 2020 as the lowest on record

Unfavorable Sentiment

• Nearly two-thirds (64%) of Canadians now view the U.S. unfavorably
• Significantly, 39% express very unfavorable views – the highest percentage recorded since 2002
• This intensity of negative sentiment marks a notable shift in Canadian attitudes

Ideological Variations

Views differ significantly across political spectrums:

• Left-leaning Canadians: 17% favorable
• Center-positioned Canadians: 32% favorable
• Right-leaning Canadians: 52% favorable

Despite these differences, all ideological groups experienced drops of approximately 15 percentage points or more compared to the previous year.

Presidential Confidence Levels

Canadian confidence in the U.S. president has plummeted dramatically:

Current Leadership Assessment

• Only 22% of Canadians express confidence in Trump’s handling of world affairs
• This contrasts sharply with 52% who had confidence in former President Biden
• These figures represent some of the lowest confidence levels since polling began in 2003

Personal Characteristics Perception

Canadian assessments of Trump’s personal qualities reveal overwhelmingly negative views:

• 91% describe him as arrogant (compared to 14% for Biden in his first year)
• 76% consider him dangerous (versus 15% for Biden in 2021)
• Only 40% view him as a strong leader (compared to 63% for Biden)

Global Issue Handling

Most Canadians lack confidence in Trump’s ability to manage international challenges:

• 74% express no confidence in his handling of global economic problems
• 57% have no confidence at all in his economic leadership
• These concerns are particularly relevant given Canada’s economic dependence on U.S. trade

The Ally-Threat Paradox

Canadian perceptions reveal a complex relationship with their southern neighbor:

United States as Primary Ally

• 55% of Canadians identify the U.S. as their country’s most important ally
• The United Kingdom ranks second at 17%
• This recognition of alliance value persists despite negative sentiment

United States as Primary Threat

Paradoxically, Canadians simultaneously view the U.S. as their greatest threat:

• 59% name the United States as their country’s top threat
• 77% perceive the U.S. as a significant economic threat
• 53% consider it a substantial national security threat
• This represents a major shift from 2019 when China was viewed as the primary threat (32% vs. 20% for the U.S.)

China’s Diminished Threat Perception

• Currently, only 17% of Canadians view China as their primary threat
• This marks a significant decrease from the 32% recorded in 2019

Economic Perceptions and Relationships

Despite political tensions, Canadian views of U.S. economic power continue to strengthen:

U.S. Economic Dominance Recognition

• 54% of Canadians view the United States as the world’s leading economy
• This represents the highest figure since polling began in 2009
• The perception has grown by 10 percentage points since 2023
• Canada is the only country among 23 surveyed where more people now view the U.S. as the top economic power than two years ago

China’s Economic Standing

• 31% of Canadians view China as the world’s top economy
• For the first time, significantly more Canadians recognize U.S. rather than Chinese economic leadership

Ideological Differences in Economic Perception

The shift in economic perception has been driven primarily by right-leaning Canadians:

• 62% of right-leaning Canadians now see the U.S. as the leading economic power (up from 44% in 2023)
• Views among center and left-leaning Canadians remained relatively stable

Economic Partnership Preferences

Canadian preferences for economic relationships reflect practical considerations despite political tensions:

U.S. vs. China Economic Ties

• Two-thirds of Canadians prefer maintaining close economic ties with the U.S. over China
• However, this represents a significant 20-point decline from 87% in 2021 during the Biden administration’s first year

Ideological Splits on Economic Partnerships

Current preferences vary by political orientation:

• Left-leaning Canadians: 58% prefer U.S. economic ties
• Center-positioned Canadians: 67% prefer U.S. economic ties
• Right-leaning Canadians: 76% prefer U.S. economic ties

This contrasts with 2021 when there was broad ideological consensus on preferring U.S. economic partnerships.

Implications and Analysis

The survey results reveal a fundamental tension in Canadian attitudes toward the United States. While political and leadership confidence has reached historic lows, Canadians continue to recognize the U.S. as both their most important ally and dominant economic partner. This complex relationship reflects the realities of geographic proximity, economic interdependence, and shared security interests, even amid significant political disagreements.

The data suggests that Canadian attitudes toward the United States are highly responsive to American leadership and policy decisions, with dramatic shifts occurring between different administrations. The current negative sentiment appears closely tied to specific concerns about presidential leadership style, policy approaches, and bilateral tensions rather than fundamental rejection of the U.S.-Canada relationship.

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