Australians’ trust in the US slumps after Donald Trump begins second term

A new poll has revealed who Australians back out of Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton to handle President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Australians’ trust in the United States has plummeted since Donald Trump began his second term as President, with two thirds of people say they have no faith the nation’s closest ally will act responsibly.

Mistrust of the US has risen 20 points to 64 per cent – the worst level since 2007 during former President George Bush’s war in Iraq – but about 80 per cent of Australians still say the alliance remains “very” or “fairly” important for Australia’s security, according to a new Lowy Institute poll of about 2,100 people in March.

Australian’s trust in the US has declined since President Donald Trump took office. Picture: AP Photo/Alex Brandon

About 41 per cent of Australians tipped Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as likely to be more competent at handling foreign policy over the next three years, compared to 29 per cent in favour of Opposition Peter Dutton, while 29 per cent were undecided.

But when it came to dealing with Mr Trump specifically, Australians were almost even split with 35 per cent saying Mr Dutton would be as prime minister at managing Australia’s relationship with the US administration compared to 34 per cent in favour of Mr Albanese.

Australians back Anthony Albanese over Peter Dutton to handle China’s President Xi Jinping. Picture: Minh Hoang/ AFP

On China the gap is clearer with 45 per cent of Australians backing Mr Albanese to manage President Xi Jinping, compared to 25 per cent who believe Mr Dutton would be better.

Demanding allies around the world increase defence spending is the only major Trump administration policy a large number of Australians agree with, with 49 per cent of people approving of the President’s push.

Australians think Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is better for Australian’s foreign policy overall. Picture: Mark Stewart / NewsWire

When dealing specifically with US President Donald Trump, more Australians say Peter Dutton is the man for the job. Picture: Richard Dobson / Newswire

Eight in ten Australians disapprove of Mr Trump’s use of tariffs to pressure other countries, which was before he had unveiled his widespread “liberation day” import taxes that sent global markets into meltdown.

Three quarters of people disapproved of the US withdrawing from the World Health Organisation and climate change agreements, as well as Mr Trump’s efforts to negotiate a deal on the future of Ukraine with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Nine in ten Australians strongly disapprove of Mr Trump pressuring Denmark to sell or hand over the self-governing territory of Greenland to the US.

Lowy Institute director of public opinion and foreign policy Ryan Neelam said given Mr Trump’s approach to his second term it was “no surprise” Australians were less trusting of the US.

“But Australians continue to show that they still separate the unpredictability of the White House from the role the alliance plays in our security,” he said.

On April 2, Mr Trump announced sweeping “reciprocal” tariffs on almost every country, including a 10 per cent hit on Australian exports to the US, which both Mr Albanese and Mr Dutton have said were unjustified.

Mr Albanese pledged $50 million to help industries heavily impacted by the US trade restrictions, like beef, aluminium and steel, while Mr Dutton has vowed to use Australia’s close defence industry and critical minerals ties with America to negotiate the removal of the tariffs.

Shortly after announcing the import taxes, which plunged global markets into chaos, Mr Trump instituted a 90 day pause for all countries except for China, for whom he ratcheted up tariff rates to 145 per cent.

Originally published as Australians’ trust in the US slumps after Donald Trump begins second term