A new poll conducted across nine European countries reveals widespread distrust in U.S. President Donald Trump and growing anxiety about the risk of armed conflict within the European Union. The survey, conducted between March 11–14 by Le Grand Continent and Cluster 17, included over 10,000 respondents from the EU’s eight largest nations plus Denmark.
Trump Seen as a Danger to Europe
According to the poll, 51% of Europeans view Trump as an “enemy of Europe,” while 63% believe his election makes the world less safe. Only 13% said he respects democratic principles, and 43% described him as having authoritarian tendencies. Nearly 40% even went as far as to say he “acts like a dictator.”
As reported by Digi24, the distrust extends beyond Trump. Tech billionaire Elon Musk is also viewed unfavorably, with nearly 80% saying he is not trustworthy. In some countries like France, Belgium, and Denmark, almost half of respondents said Europeans should boycott Tesla vehicles.
Rising Fear of Conflict Within the EU
The survey found that 55% of Europeans believe there is a high risk of armed conflict on EU soil in the coming years. Concern is especially high in Eastern Europe: 74% of Romanians and 71% of Poles expressed strong worry about the possibility of war. Ironically, these two countries also report slightly higher levels of confidence in Trump compared to Western Europe.
Despite this, only 10% of respondents across the EU said the bloc could rely on the U.S. under Trump for security. In contrast, 70% said Europe must become self-reliant in defense. Most respondents support the idea of a unified European army, although opinions differ on whether this force should replace or complement national militaries.
The findings highlight a growing sense of strategic autonomy within the EU—and a stark erosion of transatlantic trust under Trump’s leadership.
