Nearly half of British adults consider Donald Trump to be 'dangerous', according to a new Opinium poll, which also reveals widespread concerns about his stability and trustworthiness. The survey found that 50% of respondents associated the US president with the word 'dangerous', while 39% described him as 'unstable' and 35% as a 'bigot'.
More than half of those polled (54%) expect Mr Trump to be a below-average or awful president, and 64% believe he poses a threat to international stability. Even among Ukip voters, who were the most positive towards him, the top descriptor was still 'dangerous' (26%), followed by 'intelligent' (24%).
Despite these negative views, the United States remains Britain's most important ally in the eyes of the public. Half of respondents selected the US from a list of 13 nations, compared with just 9% for Germany. Additionally, 40% agreed that Brexit leaves the UK with no choice but to keep strong ties with America, and 58% said it is in Britain's interests for the US to remain powerful.
Theresa May's offer of a state visit to Mr Trump has produced a mixed reaction. While 36% said it should go ahead regardless, 28% believed it should be cancelled outright, and 25% thought it should be delayed until after the expiry of his travel ban on seven Muslim-majority countries. However, 55% expressed confidence that the Prime Minister is strong enough to stand up for British interests when dealing with the US, compared with just 22% for Jeremy Corbyn.
The poll suggests that Britons want a cautious approach: 49% said the UK should focus on improving ties with other allies rather than the US, and only 29% believe that US-UK relations will be stronger under Mr Trump than under Barack Obama. The prevailing view appears to be that while the US remains indispensable, Britain must shore up its other alliances to guard against the unpredictability of the new administration.
