Australians have less confidence in President Donald Trump than Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, but remain convinced that the U.S. alliance is vital for the country’s security, according to a survey.
About 30 percent of Australians have confidence Trump will “do the right thing in world affairs,” according to an annual Lowy Institute survey released Wednesday. The U.S. commander-in-chief comes seventh out the nine leaders ranked in the survey, behind U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May (68 percent) and Xi (43 percent) and ahead of Russia’s Vladimir Putin (19 percent) and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un (5 percent).
About 76 percent of those surveyed said Australia’s alliance with the U.S. was important for national security, almost unchanged from the year before. The survey was conducted in March through 1,200 interviews.
“There is no question that Donald Trump’s presidency has eroded Australians’ trust and confidence in the United States as a responsible global actor,” Lowy Institute Executive Director Michael Fullilove said in the survey report. “Yet despite concerns about the current occupant of the White House, Australians’ support for the U.S. alliance has held firm.”
Other survey findings include:
- 72% say the government is allowing too much Chinese investment, compared with 56% in 2014
- 63% are concerned about Chinese influence in domestic politics
- 66% see terrorism and North Korea’s nuclear program as critical threats
- 54% say the total number of migrants coming to Australia is too high