Donald Trump’s unpredictable and often confrontational foreign policy is having consequences far beyond Washington. Across Europe, even long-standing allies are beginning to question whether the United States can still be relied upon under Trump’s leadership.
Poland is a striking example. Public trust in the U.S. has dropped sharply, with more than half of Poles now saying they no longer see Trump’s America as a dependable ally.
A recent survey conducted by SW Research for the Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita asked 800 respondents a simple but telling question: Do you consider today’s United States to be a trustworthy ally of Poland? Only 29.9% answered yes, while 53.2% said no. The remaining 16.9% were undecided.
The timing of the poll matters. It was conducted on January 27–28, after weeks of headlines in which Trump openly threatened to take Greenland by force remarks that fueled fresh concerns about his judgment and stability. Those concerns have been amplified by recurring reports raising alarms about Trump’s condition, including moments where observers pointed to new health fears surrounding the president and even doctors issuing warnings that unsettled allies.
This erosion of trust is particularly notable given Poland’s history. Since the fall of communism, Polish public opinion toward the United States has generally been positive. The country hosts around 10,000 American troops and has often been described by U.S. officials as a “model ally.” Yet recent behavior from Washington has shaken that confidence.
Earlier polling already hinted at the shift. A June 2025 Pew Research Center survey found that only 35% of Poles trusted Trump to handle global affairs responsibly, compared to 75% who had expressed confidence in Joe Biden the year before. The new survey suggests the situation has worsened, with distrust now outweighing trust across nearly every demographic group.
Gender, income, education level, and place of residence made little difference. Younger adults showed slightly more balance, but even there skepticism was high. Among older age groups, distrust rose steadily. The only group where trust narrowly exceeded distrust were people with vocational education.
Much of this skepticism appears tied to Trump’s aggressive rhetoric and habit of publicly insulting allies. His dismissive comments about NATO contributions including allied efforts in Afghanistan were widely criticized in Europe. These remarks came as Trump also made headlines for erratic media moments, such as cutting off reporters mid-question and triggering Fox News “breaking alerts” tied to his behavior.
Poland now finds itself walking a diplomatic tightrope. Many citizens still believe U.S. military power plays a key role in deterring Russian aggression. At the same time, there is growing anxiety that Washington under Trump is becoming unreliable and impulsive a fear reinforced by repeated crises and even six-word warnings about global conflict coming directly from the president.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk has been openly critical of Trump’s rhetoric while trying to maintain workable relations with both Washington and Poland’s European partners. Meanwhile, President Karol Nawrocki, a right-wing conservative, has emphasized his personal connection to Trump and has argued that only Trump can bring an end to the war in Ukraine.
So far, those claims have not produced results. Despite repeated promises to resolve the conflict quickly, the fighting continues and the human cost keeps rising.
For many Poles, the issue is no longer about America’s strength. It’s about whether a United States led by Donald Trump can still be trusted to act predictably, responsibly, and in the interests of its allies.
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