Trump says US 'is respected again' -- but do Americans agree? What new poll found

Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald on Sep 25, 2025

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In a speech before the United Nations, President Donald Trump declared that, under his leadership, the United States has improved its reputation in the world.

But few Americans agree, according to a new YouGov poll.

In his hour-long address — delivered to the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 23 — the Republican president touted his record on combating illegal immigration, trumpeted his tariff policies and ridiculed renewable energy.

He also accused the U.N. of weakening western countries, criticized efforts of member states to recognize a Palestinian statehood and claimed “everyone” is clamoring for him to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

But, he began his remarks by addressing America’s position in the global community.

“On the world stage, America is respected again like it has never been respected before,” the 47th president said. “You think about two years ago, three years ago, four years ago or one year ago, we were a laughingstock all over the world.”

Poll results

In the YouGov poll — which sampled 3,380 U.S. adults on Sept. 23 — respondents were asked whether or not they agreed with this statement.

A slim majority, 51%, said they disagreed, while a much smaller share, 29%, said they agreed. Twenty-one percent said they were not sure.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the results were divided along partisan lines, according to the poll, which has a margin of error of 2.1 percentage points.

A majority of Republicans, 54%, said the U.S. “is respected again,” while most Democrats and independents — 75% and 57%, respectively — said they disagreed.

Respondents were also asked for their views on Trump’s statement that “the United Nations is funding an assault on Western countries and their borders.”

A plurality, 42%, said they disagreed with this view, while 25% said they supported it and 33% said they didn’t know.

Most Democrats, 64%, rejected this position as did a 43% plurality of independents. Meanwhile, a 41% plurality of Republicans agreed.

Lastly, poll respondents were asked about the following statement from Trump:

“If you don’t get away from the green energy scam, your country is going to fail.”

A plurality, 45%, opposed this statement, while 26% supported it and 29% said they were not sure.

A similar partisan divide emerged. Most Democrats, 66%, and a plurality of independents, 48%, disagreed, while a plurality of Republicans, 47%, agreed.

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