More than a year into the second Trump administration, some Americans have expressed an overall negative perception of the country’s impact on the world. This Spotlight Analysis examines how proud Americans are of their country and its role internationally. PRRI data show that while most Americans believe that the United States has historically been a force for good in the world, many now question whether America sets a good moral example.
Are Americans Proud of America?
PRRI’s 2025 American Values Survey shows that the majority of Americans (74%) agree that “America has always been a force for good in the world,” while less than one-quarter (23%) disagree with the statement. Nine in ten Republicans (90%) agree with the idea that America has always been a force for good, compared with 73% of independents and 67% of Democrats.
At the same time, less than one in four Americans (23%) say they are currently extremely or very proud of America’s good moral example for the world. More than four in ten Americans (42%) are moderately or a little proud, and one-third (32%) are not proud at all. Even Republicans (45%) show low pride for America’s good moral example, followed by 18% of independents and only 9% of Democrats. Instead, most Democrats (51%) say they are not at all proud.
When examining religious groups, majorities across all groups agree that America has always been a force for good, including white Christians, Christians of color, non-Christians, and religiously unaffiliated Americans. Religiously unaffiliated Americans and non-Christians, except for Jewish Americans, are the least likely to agree.
Yet, when it comes to America’s good moral example for the world, just one-third of white Christian groups, including 36% of white Catholics, 34% of white evangelical Protestants, and 32% of white mainline/non-evangelical Protestants, are very or extremely proud of America’s good moral example for the world. This is followed by about one-quarter of Hispanic Protestants (27%), Jewish Americans (25%), and Hispanic Catholics (23%), two in ten members of other non-Christian religions (18%), and only one in ten Black Protestants (12%) and religiously unaffiliated Americans (11%).
Views of Trump’s Handling of Foreign Policy and U.S. International Standing
Trump’s Handling of Foreign Policy
Around four in ten Americans (39%) approve of the job President Trump is doing handling foreign policy, while the majority (57%) disapprove. More than eight in ten Republicans (82%) approve, compared with 30% of independents and only 9% of Democrats.
Among religious groups, only white Christians approve of the job Donald Trump is doing handling foreign policy, including seven in ten white evangelical Protestants (70%) and slim majorities of white mainline/non-evangelical Protestants (56%) and white Catholics (53%). Among Christians of color, 45% of Hispanic Protestants approve, followed by 31% of Hispanic Catholics, and 22% of Black Protestants. Fewer than three in ten Jewish Americans (29%), other non-Christians (24%), and religiously unaffiliated Americans (20%) approve.
America’s International Standing and Relations With Other Countries
More than six in ten Americans (63%) say that since the beginning of 2025, America’s standing and reputation in the world has mostly changed for the worse, while around one-third (34%) say it has mostly changed for the better. Most Democrats (91%) and independents (74%) say it has mostly changed for the worse, compared with 27% of Republicans. Instead, most Republicans (71%) say it has mostly changed for the better.
Similarly, six in ten Americans (60%) say the way the U.S. has been dealing with other countries over the past year is going in the wrong direction, while less than four in ten (38%) say it is generally going in the right direction. The vast majority of Democrats (90%) say the way the U.S. is dealing with other countries is generally going in the wrong direction, compared with 69% of independents and only 22% of Republicans; nearly eight in ten Republicans (77%) say it is going in the right direction.
White evangelical Protestants (60%) are the only religious group in which a majority says America’s standing and reputation in the world has mostly changed for the better. Majorities of all other religious groups say America’s reputation has mostly changed for the worse.
With the exception of white Christian groups, including white mainline/non-evangelical Protestants (48%), white Catholics (47%), and white evangelical Protestants (30%), majorities of all other religious groups believe the way the U.S. has been dealing with other countries over the past year has generally been going in the wrong direction.
