Disapproval of Starmer’s handling of Trump increases sharply, according to Ipsos poll

A new poll from Ipsos in the UK reveals British views on US President Donald Trump.

Key findings

• US influence continues to be perceived as more negative than positive: Two in five Britons (39%) believe that the US exerts its influence mostly for bad around the world, while 16% say it uses its influence mostly for good (32% say its influence is both good and bad). This is similar to sentiment in April 2025, following the introduction of tariffs.
• Public continue to be split about the ‘special relationship’: The public remains divided on whether there is currently a 'special relationship' with the US, with 35% saying that there is one and a third (33%) saying that there isn’t. While perceptions have improved since the immediate post-tariff dip in April, they remain below the stronger support observed in 2024 and earlier. 

• Disapproval of Keir Starmer's diplomatic efforts increases: Nearly half (47%) of Britons feel that Prime Minister Keir Starmer is managing Britain's relationship with the US poorly, marking a 14-point increase in disapproval since September 2025.
• Europe's growing importance: Half of Britons (50%) now identify Europe as the most important partner for Britain, when compared with the US on 21% and the Commonwealth on 12%.  This is a peak in sentiment since Ipsos began asking the question in 2019, indicating a small shift towards the continent that began in 2025, compared with earlier years.
• British public remains sceptical of the US president: Two-thirds (66%) of Britons say they do not like Donald Trump, up slightly from 61% who said they didn’t like the US President when he visited the UK last September. 27% say they do like him. 67% say Britain does not need a leader like him, while 26% believe that we do. 

Gideon Skinner, Senior Director of UK politics at Ipsos added: 

Last autumn we saw the reputation of the US among the British public showing signs of recovery after the negative reaction to Donald Trump’s tariffs earlier in the year, but the beginning of 2026 sees the image of the US and its President slip back again. While in response, the importance of the European relationship to Britons climbs even higher.  Understanding these dynamics is crucial for Keir Starmer as he seeks to maintain good diplomatic relations across both the Channel and the Atlantic, but this is becoming harder with criticism of his handling of the UK’s partnership with the US and the President increasing significantly since the time of Trump’s state visit four months ago.

Technical note: 

• Ipsos Omnibus in the UK interviewed a representative sample of 1,058 adults aged 18-75 across Great Britain. Polling was conducted online between the 7th - 8th January 2026.
• Data are weighted to match the profile of the population. All polls are subject to a wide range of potential sources of error.