Comments on DW’s social media suggest growing irritation when coverage focuses on the United States: “Should we really be interested in what’s happening in the US? (…) Please, DW, stop fixating on everything American,” or “Europeans — and actually, the whole world — are currently suffering from ‘America fatigue.’”
Long seen as land of promise
For decades the US and the American way of life held special appeal for young people worldwide. After World War II, West Germans encountered American culture through occupying GIs who brought chewing gum, cigarettes, chocolate — and rock ’n’ roll, jazz, blue jeans and Coca‑Cola. Cultural imports and role models such as Elvis left a mark on a postwar generation. Structurally, US support like the Marshall Plan helped 16 Western European countries rebuild and stabilize democratic systems; West Germany received a particularly large share, aiding its economic “miracle” and democratic reorientation.
“That’s where the US were really innovative,” says Frank Mehring, professor of American Studies at Radboud University. He notes US use of arts and culture to shape perspectives away from narrow nationalism and toward a new European role. Pro‑American sentiment in West Germany peaked above 80% in 1963, helped by the popularity of John F. Kennedy. Later events like the Vietnam War introduced much more critical views, but American culture remained influential through TV, film, music and sports.
The state of American democracy? Surveys say: not great
Recently the US image has deteriorated sharply beyond Germany. Two‑thirds of Germans now view the US negatively (Statista, 2025). The Democracy Perception Index (DPI), the largest annual study of global public opinion on democracy, found only 45% of respondents worldwide had a positive impression of the US — a steep drop from 76% in 2024. Another DPI finding points to a key driver: 82% of countries surveyed held a negative view of US President Donald Trump, making him far less popular globally than Vladimir Putin (61% negative) and Xi Jinping (44% negative). These results predate events such as ICE’s harsh crackdowns, Trump’s comments about Greenland, and a US attack on Iran.
Many parents currently “don’t have a good feeling” about the US
Interest in travel or study abroad in the US is waning. For German teenagers planning a semester or year abroad in 2026–27, the US still ranks first, but applications are falling: at a sector event in January, most of about 45 organizations reported fewer applicants, according to Thomas Terbeck, managing director of education consultancy Weltweiser. Young people are choosing other English‑speaking countries, especially Canada, or staying home. “Many parents don’t have a good feeling about the US anymore — especially due to Trump,” Terbeck told DW.
Mehring warns that reduced travel driven by fear is worrying: “Fear is the greatest enemy of freedom and democracy.” He adds that fears are often exaggerated — many Americans remain active in protest movements, informed, and fighting for democracy. That said, he acknowledges serious problems for Indigenous peoples and ethnic minorities in some parts of the US. Still, he argues against turning away: “We still shouldn’t turn our backs and have the feeling the US has already gone to hell.”
Fascination meets critical questioning
Mehring believes widespread indifference to the US is unlikely: the country is polarizing, but few people simply don’t care. He recalls the early 1980s peace movement in Germany, when protestors used American cultural references — jeans, Bob Dylan, Woodstock — to criticize US policies while remaining fascinated by US culture. Today’s “America fatigue” is largely linked to Donald Trump and intense media focus on him; the US image has shifted before with different presidents — it worsened under George W. Bush and then improved under Barack Obama.
The current negative perceptions may therefore be contingent and could change with future US politics and leaders.
This article was originally written in German.