Australians’ trust in US sinks amid Trump’s tariffs and unpredictability
Despite the erosion of trust, support for the US alliance remains strong with 80 per cent of respondents saying it is important for security
Just 36 per cent of respondents said they trusted the US to “act responsibly in the world,” a 20 percentage-point drop from the previous year and the weakest reading since the Lowy Institute poll began in 2006, the Sydney-based think tank said on Wednesday.
The survey of 2,117 people was conducted from March 3-16, after plans for steel and aluminium tariffs had been announced but before Trump unveiled the “reciprocal” levies that sent markets into a tailspin. The poll had a margin of error of about 2.1 per cent, Lowy said.
Centre-right opposition leader Peter Dutton initially welcomed Trump’s return to the White House and looked to embrace some of his policies, including a return to office for government employees and an end to progressive social reforms.
However, as Trump’s unpredictability and harsh treatment of allies has come to the fore and his popularity waned in Australia, Dutton has worked to distance himself from the increasingly controversial US leader.