Indian Trust in US Leadership Drops Significantly in 2026 Pew Survey

A new Pew Research Center study reveals that Indian public approval of the United States and its leadership has weakened substantially. The shifting sentiment marks a notable departure from two decades of generally positive bilateral perceptions, driven largely by discontent over Washington’s current international and domestic policies.

Public confidence in the United States and President Donald Trump has weakened significantly among Indians, while unfavourable perceptions of America have climbed to their highest level in over two decades, according to the latest survey by the Pew Research Center.

The 2026 survey found that 45 per cent of Indians hold a favourable view of the United States, down from 54 per cent a year earlier. Meanwhile, 31 per cent expressed an unfavourable opinion of the US, the highest level recorded since Pew began tracking Indian public opinion on America in 2002.

Confidence in Trump also declined sharply. Only 39 per cent of Indian respondents said they have confidence in the US president to do the right thing in world affairs, compared with 52 per cent in the previous survey. The latest figure is the lowest confidence rating received by a US president among Indians during the survey period.

The findings mark a reversal from the largely positive perception of the United States that prevailed among Indian respondents over the past two decades. During Barack Obama’s presidency, favourability towards the US reached 76 per cent in 2009, while confidence in Obama peaked at 77 per cent. Even under George W. Bush, Indian opinion remained relatively favourable despite international criticism of the Iraq war.

Policies Receive Limited Support

The survey showed limited support among Indians for several policy decisions taken by the Trump administration. Only 32 per cent backed the administration’s immigration policy, while support stood at 28 per cent for its approach towards Iran and 17 per cent for its handling of Venezuela.

Trump’s decisions on international aid, the conflict in Gaza and the Russia-Ukraine war also received relatively low approval from Indian respondents.

The survey also highlights a contrast with Trump’s first term. After beginning with modest approval in 2017, confidence in Trump and favourability towards the US improved by 2020. However, the latest findings indicate that both measures have declined during his second term.

Pew interviewed 3,566 respondents across India in 13 languages for the 2026 survey using face-to-face interviews. The global study combines telephone, online and in-person interviews across participating countries.

History of Indian Perceptions of US Leaders

The 2026 Pew Research Center data highlights a sharp shift when compared to historical trends in US-India public diplomacy. Over the last 24 years, Indian respondents routinely gave high marks to American heads of state. Bilateral warmth grew significantly during the 2000s, remaining resilient even through contentious geopolitical events. The current downturn represents the most pronounced drop in alignment regarding global governance and migration strategies seen in the modern era.

FAQs

What percentage of Indians view the United States favorably in 2026?

According to the latest Pew Research Center data, 45% of Indian respondents hold a favorable view of the US, which reflects a drop from the 54% recorded one year prior.

How much confidence do Indians have in Donald Trump’s global leadership?

Only 39% of surveyed Indians expressed confidence in Donald Trump to handle world affairs appropriately, a sharp decline from the 52% approval measured in the previous survey cycle.

Which specific US policies received the lowest approval from the Indian public?

The Trump administration’s strategy on Venezuela received the lowest support at just 17%, followed by its approach to Iran at 28% and its domestic immigration policies at 32%.