The return of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency has led to a sharp decline in how Mexicans perceive their northern neighbor. According to a Pew Research Center survey published earlier this month, unfavorable views of the United States among Mexicans have surged to 69%, a dramatic drop compared to the 61% favorable views recorded during Joe Biden’s final year in office.
This 32-point swing in just one year is the most drastic shift among the 24 countries surveyed by Pew in 2025, positioning Mexico as one of the nations most critical of the United States today.
The distrust is not limited to the country itself—it is especially directed at its president.
A staggering 91% of Mexicans say they have little or no confidence that Trump will do the right thing in international affairs. This level of rejection even surpasses the low levels of trust expressed toward Biden in 2024, when 60% of Mexicans surveyed said they lacked confidence in him.
One of the most significant drivers of this widespread distrust is Trump’s approach to immigration. According to the survey, 87% of Mexicans do not trust the way he handles migration—this is the highest disapproval rating on this issue among all the countries surveyed.
This figure highlights the sensitivity of the topic in a country deeply affected by the restrictive immigration policies of the U.S. president.
Perceptions of how the U.S. handles migration along the shared border also reveal important contrasts. Some 68% of Mexicans say the United States is doing a poor job managing the large number of asylum seekers, including 26% who say it is doing a “very poor” job.
This marks a significant deterioration from last year, when 52% had a negative opinion of the U.S. government’s handling of asylum seekers. The tougher policies implemented during Trump’s new term—along with openly anti-immigrant rhetoric—appear to have decisively shaped this shift in perception.
More Favorable Evaluation of the Mexican Government
In contrast to the negative view of the United States, Mexicans maintain a positive perception of their own government’s handling of migration. According to the study, 68% of respondents believe the federal government is doing a “good job” managing the northern border.
This is up from 60% in 2024. Furthermore, this positive evaluation correlates with political affiliation: among supporters of the ruling party Morena and its allies, approval rises to 74%. Even among those who do not support the President, a majority (60%) acknowledge the government’s efforts.
The findings from the Pew Research Center reflect a significant weakening in mutual perception between the two countries, despite the deep economic, cultural, and social ties that have historically united Mexico and the United States.
The image of the United States as a reliable ally seems to be losing ground among the Mexican public, particularly among those most critical of Trump’s rhetoric and policies.
This erosion of trust could have implications for bilateral cooperation, trade, and human mobility at a key moment for both nations. The data also suggest that U.S. foreign policy under Trump faces strong public resistance from its southern neighbor.
The survey was conducted in Mexico between February and March 2025, shortly after Trump was sworn is for his second term in office, and is part of a broader global study on perceptions of the United States around the world.
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Mexican Press Agency is part of ALMA, which is dedicated to news and information about Mexico and Mexicans in the United States and is a fiscally sponsored project of Social Focus, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Redwood City, California.
