Australians trust China more than US for first time, poll finds

Australians' trust in the United States has fallen to a record low, according to a new opinion poll, while public sentiment toward China has improved for the fourth consecutive year. The shift marks an unprecedented moment, with 51 percent of those surveyed believing the relationship with China is more crucial than the one with the U.S., compared to 45 percent who favored prioritizing America.

Trust in the U.S. has steadily declined over the past four years, reaching a new low of 31 percent in the Lowy Institute's annual poll. This represents a five-point drop from the previous year. In contrast, China's trust score has been on an upward trend, hitting 28 percent in this year's survey. For comparison, in 2022, 65 percent of respondents trusted the U.S., while only 12 percent trusted China.

Faith in U.S. President Donald Trump has also hit a record low, with just 21 percent of those surveyed expressing trust in him to act responsibly. This figure is the lowest recorded in the poll's history.