Donald Trump’s second-term popularity plunges to new low in Australia due to Iran war

Donald Trump’s popularity in Australia has fallen to its lowest level of his second term as U.S. president, fueled by the war in Iran and public skepticism regarding the nation’s military involvement in the Strait of Hormuz.

Donald Trump’s Popularity in Australia Plummets

A recent Resolve Political Monitor survey of 1,807 respondents found that 62% of Australians view Trump negatively, while fewer than one in five view him positively. This represents a decline from a previous record low net favorability rating of -41% in February, prior to U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran.

The data indicates a shift in perception regarding the president’s efficacy. Fifty-two percent of respondents stated they neither like Trump nor believe he is effective, a significant increase from November. Meanwhile, those who dislike him but view him as effective fell from 29% to 22%.

Focus group data suggests Trump is perceived as “incompetent, ineffective, unreliable, erratic, self-serving, disloyal and insulting.” Overall, 61% of respondents believe his return to office has been bad for Australia, up from 53% in July.

Hostility toward the U.S. president is highest among Greens voters, followed by Labor, Coalition, and One Nation voters. Despite generally more favorable views, 53% of One Nation voters still believe Trump’s election victory was a negative outcome for Australia.

Military Commitments in the Strait of Hormuz

Public opinion remains divided on Australia’s role in the Middle East. While 42% of respondents support joining a multinational mission to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, 31% oppose such a move and 27% remain unsure.

Defence Minister Richard Marles confirmed that Australia will join a multinational effort led by France and the United Kingdom to safeguard the waterway once the war ends. Marles emphasized that the global fuel supply chain must return to normal, though he noted it is too early to specify the nature of Australia’s contribution.

Further details are expected following a military planning conference in London. This comes as U.S. officials travel to Islamabad for talks with Iran, following a renewed closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the impending expiration of a two-week ceasefire on Wednesday.

Diplomatic and Domestic Responses

Foreign Minister Penny Wong described the U.S. under Trump’s leadership as “a very different America,” citing the president’s own admitted tactic of unpredictability. Wong stated that Australia continues to engage closely with the U.S. both diplomatically and through military-to-military channels.

Domestically, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s April 1 national address regarding the fuel crisis drew a significant audience, with 49% of respondents watching the broadcast. However, the message failed to reassure the majority of viewers, with 63% stating they did not feel assured that the government had the crisis under control.