Large majorities in six nations express antipathy to Trump’s US and support European self-assertion
Western Europeans prize Europe’s autonomy and values over transatlantic ties and will not give them up to placate Donald Trump, according to a poll suggesting opinions of the US have plunged to their lowest since YouGov began tracking them a decade ago.
The US president’s attempted Greenland grab has succeeded in turning Europeans solidly against his country, the pollster’s latest survey found. Large majorities in Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Great Britain all declared an unfavourable opinion.
The figures, ranging from 62% in France to 84% in Denmark – of which Greenland is a self-governing territory – mark a further steep rise in negative perceptions of the US even since November, when the range was between 49% and 70%.
What can an ordinary person do about this? I moved my savings to ETFs that specifically exclude the US the moment Trump was elected. But my debit card is connected to Mastercard and there’s no europan alternative in my country. Or is it more about the big picture and not what I personally do or avoid?
It’s definitely something that needs to be attacked at a systems level, not a personal one. Divesting your own investments is a small step. Writing your MP is another step. Telling your union’s retirement fund that you’d like them to divest is another step.
Many raindrops make an ocean, I suppose. But there are some people who control rivers that we can influence in a small way.