Dec 26, 2019

Survey: Germans say Trump is more dangerous than Putin, Kim or Xi

Merkel glaring at Trump

German Chancellor Angela Merkel looks towards President Donald Trump during a working breakfast at a G7 summit in 2018. Photo: Leon Neal/Getty Images.

41% of Germans believe President Trump is more of a threat to world peace than North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping or Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to a YouGov survey reported by DW.

Why it matters: The results show the degree to which trust in U.S. leadership has eroded under Trump, even among countries like Germany that are traditionally viewed as close allies.

Details: 2,000 Germans participated in the survey, which was conducted between Dec. 16 and 18. Kim Jong-un came in second at 17%, followed by Putin and Khamenei at 8% and Xi at 7%.

Between the lines: Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have a rocky relationship. Trump has bashed Germany and other European countries for what he views as unfair trade policies and a failure to hit NATO defense spending targets.

Go deeper: NATO allies spooked by Trump despite White House soothing

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