{"id":28297,"date":"2021-01-19T11:55:36","date_gmt":"2021-01-19T16:55:36","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2025-04-23T23:57:24","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T03:57:24","slug":"british-french-and-german-publics-give-biden-high-marks-after-u-s-election","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2021\/01\/19\/british-french-and-german-publics-give-biden-high-marks-after-u-s-election\/","title":{"rendered":"British, French and German Publics Give Biden High Marks After U.S. Election"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-prc-block-subtitle\" aria-level=\"2\">Most are optimistic about U.S. policies and trans-Atlantic relations<\/h2>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-640-wide\"><img decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/01\/PG_2021.01.19_U.S.-Image_featured.jpg?w=640\" alt=\"A billboard in Berlin on Nov. 12, 2020, days after Joe Biden was declared the winner of the U.S. presidential election. (Christian Ender\/Getty Images)\" class=\"wp-image-48806\" \/><figcaption>A billboard in Berlin on Nov. 12, 2020, days after Joe Biden was declared the winner of the U.S. presidential election. (Christian Ender\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<div style=\"border-width:1px;padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);--block-gap: inherit\" class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible js-react-collapsible is-style-alternate has-background has-ui-beige-very-light-background-color has-border-color has-ui-beige-dark-border-color\" id=\"how-we-did-this\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/collapsible&quot;}\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;collapsibleId&quot;:&quot;how-we-did-this&quot;,&quot;isOpen&quot;:false}\" data-wp-class--is-open=\"context.isOpen\" data-wp-init--scroll-into-view=\"callbacks.onInitScrollIntoView\"><div class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible__title\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\"><div>How we did this<\/div><button class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible__icon\"><span data-wp-bind--hidden=\"context.isOpen\"><i class=\"icon icon-library__light icon__circle-plus\"><svg style=\"width: 1em; height: 1em;\"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/plugins\/prc-icon-library\/build\/icons\/sprites\/light.svg#circle-plus\"><\/use><\/svg><\/i><\/span><span data-wp-bind--hidden=\"!context.isOpen\" hidden><i class=\"icon icon-library__light icon__circle-minus\"><svg style=\"width: 1em; height: 1em;\"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/plugins\/prc-icon-library\/build\/icons\/sprites\/light.svg#circle-minus\"><\/use><\/svg><\/i><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible__content\">\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This analysis focuses on views of President-elect Joe Biden among three major U.S. allies: France, Germany and the United Kingdom. The survey examines optimism about trans-Atlantic relationships and expectations for U.S. foreign policy under Biden\u2019s administration. Views of the United States and the newly elected president are considered in the context of long-term trend data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For this report, we use data from nationally representative telephone surveys of 3,066 adults from Nov. 12 to Dec. 23, 2020, in France, Germany and the UK. Additional data is included from a survey conducted among 1,003 adults in the U.S. from Nov. 10 to Dec. 7, 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are the <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/01\/PG_2021.01.19_U.S.-Image_Topline.pdf\">questions<\/a> used for the report, along with responses, and the survey <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/methodology\/international-survey-research\/international-methodology\/all-survey\/all-country\/all-year\">methodology<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Throughout his presidency, Donald Trump was broadly unpopular internationally, and his poor ratings have had a negative impact on <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2017\/06\/26\/u-s-image-suffers-as-publics-around-world-question-trumps-leadership\/\">America\u2019s overall image<\/a>, especially among key allies and partners of the United States. By contrast, early reviews for his successor, President-elect Joe Biden, are much more positive, according to a new Pew Research Center survey in France, Germany and the United Kingdom. People in all three countries express confidence in Biden and optimism that relations with the U.S. will improve now that he is moving into the White House.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-640-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-35988\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2021\/01\/19\/british-french-and-german-publics-give-biden-high-marks-after-u-s-election\/pg_2021-01-19_u-s-image_0-01-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f5f3f2\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f5f3f2;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/01\/PG_2021.01.19_U.S.-Image_0-01.png?resize=480,272 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/01\/PG_2021.01.19_U.S.-Image_0-01.png?resize=782,444 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/01\/PG_2021.01.19_U.S.-Image_0-01.png?resize=960,545 960w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/01\/PG_2021.01.19_U.S.-Image_0-01.png?resize=1200,681 1200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/01\/PG_2021.01.19_U.S.-Image_0-01.png?resize=1280,726 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"363\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/01\/PG_2021.01.19_U.S.-Image_0-01.png?w=640\" alt=\"Biden receives much better ratings than Trump did\" class=\"wp-image-35988 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-310-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-36000\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2021\/01\/19\/british-french-and-german-publics-give-biden-high-marks-after-u-s-election\/pg_2021-01-19_u-s-image_0-02-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e0e2d8\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e0e2d8;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/01\/PG_2021.01.19_U.S.-Image_0-02.png?resize=480,697 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/01\/PG_2021.01.19_U.S.-Image_0-02.png?resize=620,900 620w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"450\" width=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/01\/PG_2021.01.19_U.S.-Image_0-02.png?w=310\" alt=\"Widespread optimism about relations with the U.S.\" class=\"wp-image-36000 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Large majorities in Germany (79%), France (72%) and the UK (65%) say they have confidence in Biden to do the right thing in world affairs \u2013 a dramatic change from the low ratings Trump received in a survey conducted in <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2020\/09\/15\/us-image-plummets-internationally-as-most-say-country-has-handled-coronavirus-badly\/\">the summer of 2020<\/a> in these three nations. As he prepares to begin his presidency, Biden\u2019s ratings are only slightly lower than the ratings Barack Obama received near the end of his second term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Large majorities also say that, when thinking of the future of their country, they are optimistic about their country\u2019s relations with the U.S., including more than eight-in-ten in Germany and France and roughly seven-in-ten in the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is also considerable optimism on the other side of the Atlantic: 73% of Americans feel optimistic about U.S. relations with European countries. This view is especially widespread among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents (83%), but also held by a majority of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents (62%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the three European countries surveyed, people have high expectations for the Biden administration on major policy issues. Substantial majorities believe that with Biden in the White House U.S. policies will improve on issues such as foreign policy, climate change and dealing with the <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/topics\/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19\/\">coronavirus outbreak<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this moment of transition between the Trump and Biden eras, overall ratings for the U.S. are mixed. About half in the UK and France and 40% in Germany have a favorable opinion of the U.S., representing in each case a significant increase from the summer 2020 survey but still somewhat lower favorability than in the last years of Obama\u2019s presidency. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The survey finds that even before the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/interactive\/2021\/01\/12\/us\/capitol-mob-timeline.html\">violent storming<\/a> of the U.S. Capitol in early January by a mob of Trump\u2019s supporters, there were widespread concerns about the health of U.S. democracy among three of America\u2019s closest allies: 73% of Germans, 64% of the French and 62% of the British think the U.S. political system needs to be subject to either major changes or completely reformed. (See \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2021\/01\/19\/even-before-capitol-riot-most-people-in-germany-france-and-the-uk-had-concerns-about-u-s-political-system\/\">Even before riot at Capitol, most people in Germany, France and the UK had concerns about U.S. political system<\/a>\u201d for more on this question, as well as other findings on attitudes regarding the health of American democracy.) &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These are among the key findings from a Pew Research Center survey conducted among 3,066 adults in France, Germany and the UK from Nov. 12 to Dec. 23, 2020. Additional data comes from a survey of 1,003 U.S. adults conducted from Nov. 10 to Dec. 7, 2020. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;confidence-in-biden-high&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-prc-block-chapter wp-block-heading\" id=\"confidence-in-biden-high\">Confidence in Biden high<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ratings for Donald Trump were consistently negative in these three countries throughout his time in office. For instance, only about one-in-ten Germans expressed confidence in Trump in the four surveys Pew Research Center conducted in Germany during his presidency. In contrast, 79% now have confidence in Biden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-640-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-35998\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2021\/01\/19\/british-french-and-german-publics-give-biden-high-marks-after-u-s-election\/pg_2021-01-19_u-s-image_0-03-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"eeeeee\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #eeeeee;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/01\/PG_2021.01.19_U.S.-Image_0-03.png?resize=480,233 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/01\/PG_2021.01.19_U.S.-Image_0-03.png?resize=782,379 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/01\/PG_2021.01.19_U.S.-Image_0-03.png?resize=960,465 960w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/01\/PG_2021.01.19_U.S.-Image_0-03.png?resize=1200,581 1200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/01\/PG_2021.01.19_U.S.-Image_0-03.png?resize=1280,620 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"310\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/01\/PG_2021.01.19_U.S.-Image_0-03.png?w=640\" alt=\"As with Bush-Obama transition, Biden election boosts international confidence in U.S. president \" class=\"wp-image-35998 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whereas Trump\u2019s low marks often resembled the poor ratings received by George W. Bush during his administration, Biden\u2019s reviews are closer to some of the highly positive ones for Obama during his two terms as president. (A Pew Research Center survey to be conducted later in 2021 will explore whether Biden\u2019s ratings change once he takes office.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At this point, there are few significant ideological differences between the left and the right regarding attitudes toward Biden in these three nations. He receives roughly the same positive reviews among people who place themselves on the left, center and right of the political spectrum. However, Biden generally gets somewhat lower ratings from supporters of right-wing populist parties. For example, just 51% of Germans with a favorable view of Alternative for Germany (AfD) have confidence in Biden, compared with 84% of those with an unfavorable opinion of the party. Smaller but still significant differences exist between supporters and nonsupporters of the Brexit Party (now called Reform UK) in the UK and National Rally in France. (See <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2021\/01\/19\/us-image-fall-2020-appendix-classifying-european-political-parties\/\">appendix<\/a> for more information on European populist parties.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the UK, views about Biden also differ according to how people feel about Brexit. While 76% of those who identify as \u201cremainers\u201d express confidence in Biden, it\u2019s just 52% among \u201cleavers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;optimism-about-u-s-policies-under-biden&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-prc-block-chapter wp-block-heading\" id=\"optimism-about-u-s-policies-under-biden\">Optimism about U.S. policies under Biden<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-310-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-35996\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2021\/01\/19\/british-french-and-german-publics-give-biden-high-marks-after-u-s-election\/pg_2021-01-19_u-s-image_0-04-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e0e2d4\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e0e2d4;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/01\/PG_2021.01.19_U.S.-Image_0-04.png?resize=480,958 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/01\/PG_2021.01.19_U.S.-Image_0-04.png?resize=620,1238 620w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"619\" width=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/01\/PG_2021.01.19_U.S.-Image_0-04.png?w=310\" alt=\"Many in European countries surveyed expect improvements under Biden\" class=\"wp-image-35996 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Reflecting widespread trust in Biden, majorities in France, Germany and the UK are hopeful that America\u2019s handling of various international issues will improve once he takes office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just under 60% in the UK and roughly two-thirds in Germany and France think U.S. foreign policy will improve under Biden\u2019s administration. About 65% in each country anticipate improvements in America\u2019s response to climate change. And roughly 70% in all three countries say the same about America\u2019s response to the coronavirus outbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Overall, fewer than a third in any country do not expect changes in any of these areas when Biden becomes president. And only around one-in-ten or fewer believe things will get worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The survey did not reference specific potential policy changes under Biden. The substance of Trump policies engendered considerable criticism abroad, suggesting that many believe there is considerable room for improvement. In 2019, 85% in the UK and 90% in both France and Germany disapproved of Trump\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2020\/01\/08\/little-support-for-trumps-international-policies\/\">withdrawal from international climate change agreements<\/a>. And fewer than one-in-five in each of the three countries rated <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2020\/09\/15\/us-image-plummets-internationally-as-most-say-country-has-handled-coronavirus-badly\/#overwhelming-majorities-rate-americas-response-to-coronavirus-outbreak-as-bad\">America\u2019s response to the coronavirus<\/a> positively in summer 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the absence of policy particulars, optimism about U.S. policies tends to be more pronounced on the political left than right in France, Germany and the UK. This is particularly true when it comes to America\u2019s response to the coronavirus outbreak. In the UK, people on the left are 16 percentage points more likely than those on the right to say America\u2019s response to the outbreak will get better. In France and Germany, 80% of those on the left vs. 68% of those on the right share this view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Optimism about policy changes under Biden is also muted among supporters of right-wing populist parties \u2013 a segment that tended to express relatively <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2020\/09\/15\/us-image-plummets-internationally-as-most-say-country-has-handled-coronavirus-badly\/#overwhelming-majorities-rate-americas-response-to-coronavirus-outbreak-as-bad\">positive views of Trump<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2020\/01\/08\/little-support-for-trumps-international-policies\/\">his policies<\/a>. Yet even among these supporters, the prevailing view is that America\u2019s response to the coronavirus pandemic, climate change and overall foreign policy will improve under the new U.S. president. For example, roughly half (51%) of Germans with a favorable view of AfD think the U.S. response to climate change will improve when Biden takes office; in the UK, a 56% majority of Brexit (Reform UK) supporters agree, as do 58% of National Rally backers in France.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;upbeat-view-of-future-relations-with-u-s&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-prc-block-chapter wp-block-heading\" id=\"upbeat-view-of-future-relations-with-u-s\">Upbeat view of future relations with U.S.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A generally positive outlook extends to trans-Atlantic relations as well. More than eight-in-ten in France and Germany are optimistic about their country\u2019s future relations with the U.S., and roughly seven-in-ten in the UK share this view. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Germany, this optimism follows a recent low point in bilateral relations. In a survey conducted by K\u00f6rber-Stiftung in September 2020, 79% of Germans described <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2020\/11\/23\/americans-and-germans-head-into-2021-with-divergent-opinions-on-transatlantic-alliance\/\">present relations between their country and the U.S. as bad<\/a>, and many did not view the U.S. as a partner on important international issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-310-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-35992\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2021\/01\/19\/british-french-and-german-publics-give-biden-high-marks-after-u-s-election\/pg_2021-01-19_u-s-image_0-05-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e4e6e0\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e4e6e0;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/01\/PG_2021.01.19_U.S.-Image_0-05.png?resize=480,530 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/01\/PG_2021.01.19_U.S.-Image_0-05.png?resize=620,684 620w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"342\" width=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/01\/PG_2021.01.19_U.S.-Image_0-05.png?w=310\" alt=\"Most Americans are optimistic about future trans-Atlantic relations\" class=\"wp-image-35992 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In all three countries polled, people who express confidence in President-elect Biden to do the right thing in world affairs are much more likely to be optimistic about bilateral relations with the U.S. Among those who have confidence in Biden, overwhelming majorities in France (92%), Germany (91%) and the UK (79%) say they are optimistic on future relations. However, even among those who do not trust Biden, most are hopeful about their country\u2019s relations with the U.S., including 64% in France, 62% in Germany and 60% in the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nearly three-in-four Americans are also optimistic about relations between their country and countries in Europe. This opinion is particularly common among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents (83%), but a majority of Republicans and Republican leaners (62%) also hold this view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;a-slight-uptick-in-ratings-of-the-u-s&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-prc-block-chapter wp-block-heading\" id=\"a-slight-uptick-in-ratings-of-the-u-s\">A slight uptick in ratings of the U.S.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-310-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-35990\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2021\/01\/19\/british-french-and-german-publics-give-biden-high-marks-after-u-s-election\/pg_2021-01-19_u-s-image_0-06-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f1f2f2\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f1f2f2;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/01\/PG_2021.01.19_U.S.-Image_0-06.png?resize=480,1231 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/01\/PG_2021.01.19_U.S.-Image_0-06.png?resize=620,1590 620w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"795\" width=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/01\/PG_2021.01.19_U.S.-Image_0-06.png?w=310\" alt=\"European publics surveyed divided on views of the U.S.\" class=\"wp-image-35990 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Overall views of the U.S. in the three European countries surveyed are lukewarm. In France and the UK, about half see the U.S. favorably while about four-in-ten or more see the country unfavorably. Germans are especially critical, with a majority holding an unfavorable view of the U.S. and only four-in-ten viewing the U.S. positively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still, these evaluations of the U.S. are more sanguine than the ratings the U.S. received <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2020\/09\/15\/us-image-plummets-internationally-as-most-say-country-has-handled-coronavirus-badly\/\">last summer<\/a>. In France, the share who see the U.S. favorably has increased by 19 percentage points, and the share has increased by 14 and 10 points in Germany and the UK, respectively. For the French and Germans, these are also the most favorable views of the U.S. expressed during the Trump presidency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The increase in positive ratings for the U.S. is not as great as the increase observed in our 2009 survey, following the election of Barack Obama, in which ratings improved dramatically from the lower marks seen throughout much of George W. Bush\u2019s presidency. A Pew Research Center survey to be conducted later this year will examine whether views of the U.S. shift further once Biden takes office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although those on the ideological left are in some cases more optimistic about the direction of policy change under a Biden administration, it is those on the right who have more favorable attitudes toward the U.S. overall. For instance, six-in-ten Britons on the ideological right have favorable view of the U.S., compared with only about a third of their compatriots on the left. A similar pattern holds in France, where 56% on the right are favorable toward the U.S., versus 38% on the left. The difference between those on the left and on the right is not statistically significant in Germany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ratings of the U.S. also differ with views of right-wing populist political parties. In all three countries surveyed, those who have favorable views of a right-wing populist party are more likely than those with unfavorable views to also see the U.S. favorably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For those in the UK, attitudes are additionally divided by views about Brexit. Those who think of themselves as \u201cremainers\u201d are 14 percentage points less likely to have a favorable view of the U.S. than those who see themselves as \u201cleavers.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Most in all three countries are optimistic that U.S. policies and trans-Atlantic relations will improve under his presidency.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":578,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sub_headline":"Most are optimistic about U.S. policies and trans-Atlantic relations","sub_title":"Most are optimistic about U.S. policies and trans-Atlantic 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