US viewed as ‘enemy country’ to France in new poll
The survey asked people in France if they still see the US as an ally amid Greenland furore
FRANCE–US TENSIONS: A new poll shows many in France now see the US under Donald Trump as a potential threat
Lucas Parker / ToninT / Shutterstock
People in France are increasingly viewing the US as an enemy state, and more than half feel it could even become a military threat in future, a new poll has found, as tensions rise over Greenland.
The poll by Ifop* was published on January 20.
It found:
42% of those polled said they see the US under President Donald Trump as an “enemy country” to France, up from the 30% who said the same in April 2025
34% see the US as a neutral nation to France
Just 24% see the US as an ally to France
More than half (51%) of participants even felt that under President Donald Trump, the US could become a military threat to France in future. This comes after Russia (80% see it as a threat), North Korea (68%), Iran (67%), and China (58%).
Of Mr Trump himself:
Trump and Greenland
A considerable majority (70%) said that France should oppose the US if Mr Trump moves to annex Greenland.
It comes after Mr Trump issued several threats to France and French import tariffs – including for French wines and Champagnes – this week, in retaliation to news that Europe and France intended to oppose his attempts to annex Greenland. Greenland is currently part of Denmark (an EU country).
Mr Trump also sparked further debate after he published a private message that he claimed had come from President Emmanuel Macron, saying that he “did not understand” Mr Trump’s actions on Greenland.
The response was reportedly due to Mr Trump hearing that Mr Macron did not intend to accept his invitation to join his new ‘Board of Peace’ initiative.
The poll found that in the event that the US takes control of Greenland:
65% said they would support a boycott of American products
64% would support suspending purchases of American military equipment
62% would support imposing significant tariffs on American products
If the US annexes Greenland:
Some two thirds of those polled (64%) believe that European defence should be completely independent from that of the United States. This figure has remained broadly stable, up from 63% saying the same in a similar poll in 2025.
European Commission president Ursula von de Leyen today (January 21) said that Europe is “fully prepared to act if necessary”.
She added that Europe needs to “speed up its push for independence”. Speaking to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, she said: “We are at a crossroads. We need our own strategic approach.”
*Online study by Ifop, for the travel website Partir à New York, conducted on January 15 and 16 on a sample of 1,000 people representative of French citizens aged 18 and over.
