Canadians’ views toward Washington have fluctuated significantly over time, showing a clear relationship with changes in U.S. administrations. Canadian approval of U.S. leadership averaged 61% under President Barack Obama, compared with 19% in Trump’s first term and 41% under President Joe Biden.
The latest approval rating of 15% continues a longer-term trend. Aside from an uptick in 2021, a minority of Canadians have approved of Washington each year since 2017.
The latest downturn comes amid heightened diplomatic tension. Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has introduced steep economic tariffs and revived rhetoric suggesting Canada could become the United States’ “51st state.”
More Canadians Disapprove of Washington Than Beijing, See Moscow in Similar Light
Of the four global powers Gallup asks about in the World Poll, Germany’s leadership receives the most positive ratings in Canada. In 2025, a slim majority of Canadians (54%) approve of Berlin. Approval of China’s leadership stands at 23%, up eight percentage points since 2024. The current rating is its highest since 2018 (when 30% approved) but remains significantly lower than Germany’s approval rating (54%).
The 79% of Canadians who disapprove of U.S. leadership is statistically on par with the 82% who disapprove of Russia’s.
Faith in National Leadership Rises Under Carney
Canadians’ views of their national leadership have improved notably in 2025, rising 19 points from the previous year to 59%. The increase followed Mark Carney’s replacement of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as party leader in March and his election victory in April. Approval of Canada’s leadership under Trudeau declined from 64% in 2016 — his first full year in office — to a low of 40% in 2024.
The recent rebound contrasts with a more modest shift seen a decade earlier. Between 2015 and 2016, approval rose by four points, from 60% under Conservative Party Prime Minister Stephen Harper to 64% under Trudeau’s Liberal Party. Carney, by contrast, delivered a 19-point surge despite representing the same party as his predecessor.
Brisk Economic Headwinds Remain
While national leadership ratings have improved this year, Canadians remain gloomy about the state of the economy. Economic optimism has dropped to a new low in 2025, with 27% saying their local economy is getting better, compared with 63% who say it is getting worse.
Perceptions of the job market have also taken a considerable hit in the past few years as unemployment has risen. Canada’s unemployment rate stood at 7.0% in May of this year and remained at 6.9% in August, up from a post-pandemic low of 4.8% in mid-2022.
The housing affordability crisis also remains widespread in Canada. One in four adults (25%) are satisfied with the availability of good, affordable housing, compared with 72% who are dissatisfied, one of the lowest levels among advanced economies.
