Half of Europeans see Trump as ‘enemy of Europe:’ Survey
- Last updated: January 23, 2026 | 21:58 ..
A half of Europeans surveyed in seven EU countries view US President Donald Trump as an "enemy of Europe," according to a poll published on Friday.
Fifty-one per cent view Trump as an "enemy of Europe," while just eight per cent consider him to be a "friend of Europe," according to the survey of more than 1,000 people in each of France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain, Denmark and Poland.
Some 39 per cent think he is "neither one nor the other," it said, after polling participants between Jan.13 and 19, following Trump's threats to seize the Danish autonomous territory of Greenland.
Danes were among those who most considered Trump to be an "enemy," with 58 per cent of those polled believing this.
Across all seven nations, 44 per cent said Trump "behaves like a dictator," while another 44 per cent think he has "authoritarian tendencies." Just 10 per cent consider that "he respects democratic principles."
Europe has struggled to set red lines as its once-close American ally has turned hostile under Trump, even threatening its sovereignty.
While Trump this week backed down on seizing mineral-rich Greenland by force, European countries say they remain vigilant for any next move from the US leader.
Trump on Wednesday said Europe was "not heading in the right direction."
A US national security strategy released in December by Trump's administration said migration was threatening Europe with "civilisational erasure," and called for "cultivating resistance" among right-wing parties.
Meanwhile, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen visited Greenland's capital for talks with the territory's leader after a turbulent week that saw Trump back down from threats to seize the Arctic island and agree to negotiations.
Denmark has rejected Trump's claims that the US must take control of Greenland because China and Russia are trying to gain a foothold in the region, with Copenhagen vowing to beef up its military presence on the island.
Frederiksen's visit comes after two fraught weeks for Denmark and Greenland, culminating in Trump claiming he had reached an agreement with Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte on Wednesday that saw the US leader withdraw his threats of military action and tariffs against European allies.
"I'm here to show the strong support Danes have for Greenlanders," Frederiksen told reporters.
Agencies