A survey has found that nearly half of Europeans view Donald Trump as “an enemy of Europe.” Even more rate the risk of war with Russia as high, and over two-thirds believe their country would be unable to defend itself in such a conflict.
The nine-country poll, conducted for the Paris-based debate platform Le Grand Continent, also revealed that nearly three-quarters of respondents want their country to remain in the EU. A similar proportion said that leaving the union had harmed the UK.
Jean-Yves Dormagen, a political science professor and founder of the polling agency Cluster17, commented: “Europe is not only facing growing risks, but also a transformation of its historical, geopolitical, and political environment. The overall picture from the survey shows a Europe that is anxious, deeply aware of its vulnerabilities, and struggling to envision a positive future.”
On average, 48% of respondents across the nine countries see Trump as an outright foe. This view was strongest in Belgium (62%) and France (57%), and weakest in Croatia (37%) and Poland (19%).
“Across the continent, Trumpism is clearly considered a hostile force,” Dormagen said, noting that this perception is hardening. Fewer people now describe Trump as “neither friend nor foe” compared to December 2024, with more viewing him as definitely hostile.
Despite this, Europeans still see the relationship with the US as strategically important. When asked what position the EU should take towards the US government, the most popular choice (48%) was compromise.
The survey, conducted in France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Croatia, Belgium, and the Netherlands, also found that a relative majority (51%) feel the risk of open war with Russia in the coming years is high, with 18% considering it very high.
Dormagen said such a result “would have been unthinkable just a few years ago and signals a shift in European opinion toward a new geopolitical reality, where the possibility of direct conflict on the continent is now widely accepted.”
Views on the risk of war varied strongly by proximity to Russia. In Poland, 77% of respondents considered the risk high, compared to 54% in France, 51% in Germany, 39% in Portugal, and 34% in Italy.
Confidence in national military capabilities was low across the board. An average of 69% of respondents across the nine countries said their nation was “not really” or “not at all” capable of defending itself against Russian aggression.
French respondents were the most confident, though this remained a minority opinion at 44%. In Poland, which shares a border with Russia, 58% lacked confidence. “We are entering an age of danger while feeling a persistent sense of national weakness,” Dormagen observed.
Feelings of vulnerability were widespread. Only 12% of respondents said they did not feel particularly threatened by various sources of insecurity, ranging from technological and military to energy and food.
While there were national differences, technological and digital security was the most frequently cited threat (28%), followed by military security (25%). There was strong demand for European assistance, with 69% saying the EU should play a greater role in ensuring security.The vast majority of respondents across the nine countries supported EU membership, with 74% wanting their country to remain in the bloc. This sentiment was strongest in Portugal (90%) and Spain (89%), and weakest in Poland (68%) and France (61%).
Five years after Brexit, the UK’s decision to leave is widely viewed as a failure. 63% believed it had a negative impact on Britain, while only 19% saw it as positive—including just 5% who considered it very positive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the survey finding that half of Europeans view Trump as a threat to Europe
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What exactly did this survey find
The survey conducted by the European Council on Foreign Relations found that approximately 50 of respondents across 12 European countries believe that if Donald Trump is reelected US President he would pose a threat to the security of Europe
2 Who was asked in this survey
The poll surveyed over 17000 adults across 12 European Union countries including France Germany Poland Spain and Italy
3 Why do Europeans see Trump as a threat
The primary concern is based on Trumps past statements and policies During his first term he questioned the value of the NATO alliance suggested the US might not defend allies and praised Russian President Vladimir Putin Europeans fear this could weaken their collective defense and embolden adversaries like Russia
4 Does everyone in Europe feel this way
No the views vary significantly by country For example concern is very high in Germany and Poland but lower in Hungary and Romania Political affiliation also plays a big role with leftleaning voters generally more concerned than rightleaning voters
5 What is strategic autonomy and why do people keep mentioning it
Strategic autonomy is the idea that Europe should build up its own military and diplomatic strength to act independently without having to rely so heavily on the United States for security This survey shows that fear of Trump is a major driver for Europeans who support this idea
Advanced Practical Questions
6 What are the main geopolitical risks Europeans are worried about
The top risks are a potential US withdrawal from its NATO commitments which would undermine the core of European defense and the encouragement it might give Russia to become more aggressive in Ukraine or elsewhere Theres also concern about trade wars and the erosion of the transatlantic democratic partnership
7 How is this perception influencing European policy right now
This sentiment is accelerating existing trends Its fueling debates about massively increasing European defense budgets creating a more integrated EU defense industry and giving more power to EUlevel defense initiatives Its also causing some countries to reassess their diplomatic positioning
