In a poll of more than 2000 British adults, More in Common tested the public mood ahead of Donald Trump's second inauguration. We found that:
- Three fifths of the British public have a negative view of Donald Trump. He has a lower approval rating than any British politician polled.
- When asked to describe Donald Trump in one word, Britons' top choices were ‘idiot’, ‘dangerous’, ‘funny’ and ‘narcissist’.
- Had the November election been held in the UK, Harris would have won by a landslide. However, Trump would have led among younger men.
- Despite his unpopularity, Britons prefer their government to work with Trump rather than take a confrontational stance.
- Britons think that Trump’s presidency will increase inflation in the UK.
3 in 5 Britons have a negative view of Donald Trump
59 percent of Britons view Trump negatively, compared to only 24 percent who have a positive view. This gives the incoming president a net approval rating of -36, two points lower than Keir Starmer and Tommy Robinson, and one point lower than Elon Musk.
Reform voters are the only voter group among whom Trump has a positive approval rating: 59 percent of Reform voters have a positive view of Trump, while only 28 percent have a negative view. This gives Trump an approval rating of +31 among Reform voters (twice as high as their approval of Trump’s associate Elon Musk, whose approval with Reform voters is +15).
On whether or not Trump will be eventually be remembered as a successful president, Britons are more conflicted. A third (32 percent) believe that he will be seen as successful following his second term, while 43 percent expect him to be seen as unsuccessful.
Trump in a word
When Britons were asked to describe Trump in one word, the most popular responses were ‘idiot’, ‘dangerous’, ‘funny’ and ‘narcissist’.
But what do pro-Trump Britons think? Among the 28 percent of the British public who would have voted for Trump, a different picture emerges. The most popular word used by these supporters to describe him was "funny," followed by "leader," "strong," and "bold."
How would Britain have voted?
If the November election had been held in the UK, Kamala Harris would have won by a landslide. 50 percent of Britons say they would have voted for Harris, while only 28 percent would have backed Trump.
However, the gender split that defined much of the US Election would also apply to the UK. While Harris would likely have secured a 36-point lead among British women, her lead among British men would only have been 7 points.
Age also plays a significant role, with Trump enjoying far greater support from younger British men. Among men younger than 35, 53 percent say they would have voted for Trump, compared to only 29 percent for Harris. This trend reverses among men over 35, where 52 percent favor Harris and 33 percent back Trump.
Britons mostly want Starmer to prioritise a good working relationship with Trump
Britons generally believe Keir Starmer should prioritise working with Trump rather than standing up to him. 44 percent hold this view, while 37 percent think he should focus on taking a firmer stance.
The notable exceptions are Liberal Democrat and Green Party voters, the groups with the most unfavourable views of Trump. 48 percent of Liberal Democrats and 53 percent of Greens believe Starmer should prioritise standing up to Trump.
Britons expect Trump’s presidency to increase inflation in the UK, but don’t expect other major changes in the international system.
Polling from November 2024 reveals that 53 percent of Britons believe Trump’s presidency will drive UK prices higher over the next four years, while 25 percent think prices will remain stable and 8 percent expect them to decrease.
Opinions on US-UK relations are mixed. Thirty percent of Britons anticipate increased trade with the US, 20 percent predict a decline, and 30 percent expect no change. Similarly, 28 percent foresee stronger diplomatic ties, while 20 percent believe they will weaken.
Many Britons think that Trump’s return will herald a closer relationship between the UK and Europe: thirty-eight percent believe our diplomatic relations with Europe will strengthen, and 36 percent predict increased trade. Additionally, 42 percent think the UK should prioritise trade with Europe over the US, compared to 26 percent who prefer the opposite.
On broader international issues - such as global climate change efforts and our trade with China and India - most Britons expect little change under Trump’s leadership.