Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1543144
13 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 8 FEBRUARY 2026 NEWS Only 22% of Maltese think US is heading in right direction IN a clear indication that Donald Trump remains politically toxic in Malta, only 22% of Maltese respondents believe that, in general, things are going in the right direction in the United States. By contrast, nearly half (48%) think the US is heading in the wrong direction, while a further 30% were unable to ex- press an opinion. The findings emerge from the latest Eu- robarometer survey published earlier this week, based on interviews with 500 Mal- tese respondents and carrying a margin of error of 4.4 percentage points. However, the survey also shows a mod- est improvement in perceptions since May. The share of Maltese who think the US is moving in the right direction has increased by eight percentage points, while those who believe it is going in the wrong direction decreased by one point. The proportion of respondents express- ing no opinion fell by nine points. The survey was conducted in Novem- ber, after Foreign Minister Ian Borg nom- inated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize and following the start of a fragile cease- fire in Gaza. It also preceded Trump's lat- est threats against Danish sovereignty in Greenland, the abduction of Venezuela's president Nicolas Maduro, and shootings of civilians by ICE agents in Minneapolis. While the proportion of Maltese who believe the US is heading in the right direction matches the EU average, Mal- ta records a substantially lower share of respondents saying the US is on the wrong track (48%, compared with 65% across the EU). This difference is largely explained by Malta's higher proportion of uncommitted respondents, which is among the second highest in the EU after Estonia. Negative views of the US are strongest in Sweden and the Netherlands (both 92%), followed by Denmark (91%). Just 3% of Danes and 5% of Dutch and Swed- ish respondents think the US is heading in the right direction. Large majorities also believe the US is on the wrong path in Germany (81%), Luxembourg (80%), Finland (79%), Belgium (79%), Ireland (75%), Austria (72%) and Spain (71%). Lower—but still clear—majorities are recorded in Slove- nia (69%), France (67%), Slovakia (62%), Greece (62%) and Italy (58%). By contrast, majorities believe the US is heading in the right direction in Hungary (55%), Romania (53%) and Poland (50%). Maltese more optimistic about their own country and the EU The survey also shows that a relative majority of Maltese (46%) believe their own country is heading in the right direc- tion—down six points since May. Mean- while, 39% think Malta has taken a wrong turn, up from 32% in May. Across Europe, Luxembourg and the Czech Republic lead optimism about na- tional direction (both 60%), followed by Ireland (53%). France stands out as the most pessimistic country, with 75% be- lieving their nation is on the wrong track. Maltese respondents are notably more positive about the European Union: 53% say the EU is heading in the right direc- tion, well above the EU average of 38%, while only 28% believe the bloc is taking a wrong turn. JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt Rank Country % Right Direction % Wrong Direction 1 Hungary 55 34 2 Romania 53 34 3 Poland 50 33 4 Czechia 40 48 5 Croatia 37 52 6 Bulgaria 32 39 6 Italy 32 58 8 Lithuania 27 42 9 Estonia 25 43 10 Spain 24 62 11 Cyprus 23 42 12 Malta 22 48 12 Slovakia 22 62 14 Portugal 21 50 15 Belgium 16 79 15 Estonia 16 71 17 Ireland 14 75 17 Latvia 14 47 17 Austria 14 72 17 Slovenia 13 69 21 France 13 67 22 Germany 10 81 22 Finland 10 79 24 Luxembourg 7 80 25 Netherlands 5 92 25 Sweden 5 92 27 Denmark 3 91