Fact Check: In a Pew survey conducted during the early months of Trump's first term, confidence in Trump's ability to do the right thing in international affairs fell from 86% among Germans who had confidence in President Barack Obama to just 11% after Trump took office in 2017.

Fact Check: Confidence in Trump's International Affairs Compared to Obama's

What We Know

The claim states that in a Pew survey conducted during the early months of Donald Trump's presidency, confidence in Trump's ability to handle international affairs fell from 86% among Germans who had confidence in Barack Obama to just 11% after Trump took office in 2017. This assertion is supported by multiple sources. According to a Pew Research Center survey from 2017, a median of only 22% of respondents across 37 nations expressed confidence in Trump to do the right thing in international affairs. Specifically, the survey indicated that only 11% of Germans had confidence in Trump, a dramatic drop from the 86% who expressed confidence in Obama during his final year in office (source-5, source-8).

Analysis

The evidence supporting the claim is robust, as it is derived from a reputable source, the Pew Research Center, which is known for its rigorous polling methodologies. The survey results indicate a stark contrast in international confidence levels between the two presidents, particularly among German respondents. The drop from 86% to 11% is significant and illustrates a broader trend of declining confidence in U.S. leadership under Trump compared to Obama (source-4, source-2).

However, while the claim is accurate regarding the specific numbers for Germany, it is important to note that the 11% figure is part of a larger context where the median confidence in Trump was 22% across all surveyed nations. This broader perspective is essential for understanding the overall sentiment towards Trump's presidency, which was markedly lower than that for Obama (source-1, source-3).

Conclusion

The claim is Partially True. While it accurately reflects the dramatic decline in confidence among Germans from 86% under Obama to 11% under Trump, it does not provide the full context of the overall international confidence in Trump, which was also low but averaged higher than the German figure alone. The specific data points are correct, but the claim could be misleading if interpreted without the broader context of international sentiment.

Sources

1. U.S. Image Suffers as Publics Around World Question ...
2. Global Confidence in the United States Is Shaken
3. Diminishing Global Power, Downgrading Human Rights
4. Majorities in key U.S. allies have no confidence in Trump
5. Trump causes 'major' shift in global view of US: Pew - BBC
6. Trump Unpopular Worldwide, American Image Suffers - Pew Research Center
7. US Image Declines in Many Nations Amid Low Confidence ...
8. PDF Microsoft Word - Pew Research Center U.S.-German Relations Report FINAL ...