Perceptions of the European Union (EU) in the United States (US) have changed notably over the past decade. While the EU is still viewed positively overall, liberals view it more favourably than conservatives, reflecting a growing nativist ideology amongst conservatives. In this light, the EU is increasingly viewed as an international organization challenging national sovereignty and an economic rival. Additionally, the EU and Europe are viewed as less important due to changes in economic and political power with the growth of China. The findings for this article are based on a nationally representative public opinion survey, content analysis of leading US newspapers, a social media analysis from Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, a literature review, expert interviews and a focus group of young Americans, all conducted in 2021. This study provides insights on how growing polarization during the first Trump presidency impacted perceptions of the EU – a trend that has accelerated with Trump’s second term. The findings are presented by examining the tensions between narrative and materiality along two lines of contradiction: that of increasing US polarization and the US’ changing narrative on global leadership.
Read the full paper in the Journal of Contemporary European Studies.