How Donald Trump’s politics strengthens other heads of state

Donald Trump has been swinging a lot of dust since he took office: his claims on Greenland annoy Denmark and the GRÖNLANDER, his tauntlets towards Canada spoil the once good relationships, and the many tariffs burden international trade.

State and government heads that are dealing with Trump these days are not easy. But whoever offers him his forehead can benefit.

The best example is currently Canada: the ruling liberal party has crashed in the surveys and would have lost the upcoming parliamentary elections in the household against the conservatives. In January it was almost 20 percent under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, while the conservatives were almost twice as popular.

But after Trump’s inauguration on January 20, that changed. That of the liberals shot up like a champagne corner on New Year’s Eve. On March 31, they led to 42 percent in front of the conservatives, which fell to 37.5 percent.

The Trudeau, who has now resigned, has also grew since Trump’s taking office: in December his approval was 22 percent, and 47 percent in March. His successor Mark Carney also benefits from the election on April 28th. He opposes Trump’s threats, as Trudeau did.

Another reason for the success of the liberals is the conservative opposition leader Pierre Poilievre, who resembles style and agenda Trump. He initially benefited from the dissatisfaction via Trudeau – until the change in the White House came.

In the southern neighboring country of the USA, the left-wing President Claudia Sheinbaum also benefits from the “Trump effect”, as the writes. She was expected to invest with Trump for his threats against drug cartels and tariffs to Mexican exports.

But Sheinbaum stayed cool and reacted prudently. She managed to delay tariffs and retaliation measures from the United States. She reacts to Trump’s threats to use the US military against drug cartels: “We do not agree,” she said, according to the AFP news agency.

Even Donald Trump seems to impress that the Sheinbaum called a “wonderful woman”. Her compatriots are also satisfied: according to the newspaper, their approval was 85 percent in early March.

Sheinbaum’s approach “strengthens and gives her the image of a strong personality,” said Francisco Abundis from the Poll research institute Parametria of the “Financial Times”. The good survey values ​​and Trump’s threats could also help her distract her from other problems and your party.

In Europe, too, Trump’s behavior has increased the poll values ​​of its opponents, for example with the Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj. The main reason for the increased approval: Trumps and JD Vances unfriendly treatment in the White House.

Trump’s statements were regarded as “unfair”, “a dagger blow in the back” and as a “comprehensive attack on the country”, said Anton Hrushetskyi from the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology of the “Financial Times”.

Against the background of the new challenges for Ukraine, there is a “process of social agreement,” said Hrushetskyi. This is also shown in the: The trust of the Ukrainians in their head of state has increased after the scandal in the White House. It had dropped steadily since Russia’s marching into Ukraine.

Not only Selenskyj, other Europeans also benefit from their determination and tact in dealing with Trump: since the beginning of the year, the British Prime Minister, who were previously in free fall.

And the Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen can also do one: In January, 31 percent of the Danes said that she did a good job, in March this value rose to 45 percent. Her social democratic party was also able to grow.

“The more aggressive and caustic to do with them, the more tailwind they get if they oppose him,” said Craig Kafura, director of public opinion and foreign policy at Chicago Council on Global Affairs, the magazine. “It is risky to cope with the USA when you are a small country, but it has political advantages to oppose a tyrant. And not opposing Trump is political suicide.”

On the other hand, politicians who are praised by Trump and maintain good relationships with him do not benefit. Neither nor gained popularity.

Kafura’s explanation for this: “There is nothing that could trigger this reaction. They are simply not attacked. And the absence of attacks will not have the same effect that everyone gather behind the flag.”

Exceptions confirm the rule: Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino is not rewarded that he rejects Trump’s wish to make the Panamaanal again US, according to “Politico”.

And what about Trump’s own survey values? his average approval in the opinion polls drops from more than 51 percent after the inauguration to 47.4 percent at the end of March. 49.8 percent of US citizens are currently negatively evaluating Trump.