US global ratings up, Germany most admired

Global approval ratings of American leadership rebounded to near 50% six months into the Biden administration just before the Afghanistan debacle after the lows of around 30% during the Trump presidency, according to a new Gallup poll released Tuesday.

- Chidanand.Rajghatta @timesgroup.com

Washington: The Gallup report shows that as of early August 2021, across 46 countries and territories, median approval of US leadership stood at 49%, matching the rating during former President Obama’s first year in office in 2009. Median approval rating of US leadership had plunged to 30% at the end of Donald Trump’s presidency despite his boast of many foreign policy successes, including pulling out US troops from Afghanistan.

Gallup said the Biden ratings may change as it completes its 2021 fieldwork in more countries, particularly in the wake of the late August fiasco in Afghanistan, but added that the “substantial gains across so many countries halfway through 2021 make it unlikely that the final rating for Biden’s first year in office could retreat to his predecessor’s levels”.