Around the world, in densely packed urban centers and sprawling open landscapes, in universities and boardrooms, teashops and street markets, people understand America through our actions and our communications.
A 16-year-old in Pakistan watches a viral meme posted by the U.S. government, while a young mother in France catches a clip from a video platform, and a business owner in Japan monitors a press conference.
Messaging is more than image: It’s policy. In 2026, the world understands American national interests through what the U.S. administration chooses to publicize to the world. Today, that’s shared through WhatsApp group chats, Instagram and X posts, memes sent via Signal, and press conferences that go viral through clips on YouTube.
Storytelling is a powerful force, and the advent of digital platforms that can instantly amplify content to millions has sharply shaped official narratives. On these platforms, and through our engagement with foreign audiences, the United States can do better in how we represent our values, our ideals, our country’s plurality and the very fabric of our nation.
The image of humility, of openness, and of opportunity has long defined the United States and is a great strength on the world stage. It has been a powerful lever in our international relations. President George W. Bush highlighted the value of America’s image in his 2000 presidential campaign, when he said: “If we’re an arrogant nation, they’ll view us that way… But if we’re a humble nation, they’ll respect us.”
People around the world, from Kenya to Poland, have witnessed American advocacy for freedom and have seen the impact of America’s voice.
Countries have sought to emulate our political systems, businesspeople have wanted to trade and invest in American enterprises, students have chosen U.S. universities for academic excellence and freedom, and tourists have visited our national parks and toured our cities in large part because of their understanding of what our nation represented.
Decades of official U. S. engagement have influenced how our country is perceived by billions, despite our complex history and periodic shifts in the domestic political landscape.
For generations of scholars and entrepreneurs, the United States was the nation that offered opportunity. For immigrants building businesses to refugees rebuilding lives, America symbolized hope in a complex world. U.S. government public communications mirrored that optimism and amplified programs, including exchanges, international tourism campaigns and arts programming, that showcased American plurality and American exceptionalism.
Foreign public opinion, of course, reflects U.S. policy and actions, versus direct correlations to Instagram memes. However, how America presents itself to the world matters – especially far from the halls of government.
Recent polling illustrates a concerning trend in the global view of the United States. January data collected by the European Council on Foreign Relations shows affinity with the United States has fallen in the EU. A slight majority of respondents said America was a necessary partner – hardly the warm feelings you’d expect from decades-long allies with whom our country has most closely aligned on values. About 20% described the United States as a “rival” or “adversary,” compared with 16% who said it was an ally.
This is alarming because public opinion sways governments and private sector investors and travelers. A 2026 Gallup poll showed similar results: Among NATO allies, approval of the United States fell 4 percentage points in one year, to 21%. And it’s not limited to Europe. A 2024 Gallup poll also showed that positive sentiment toward the United States across Africa slipped to 56% in 2023 from 59% in 2022, while China’s approval in the region rose 6 percentage points to 58% in 2023 from 2022.
How America is seen by the world shapes our partnerships, our security, and our economy. A young adult on social media in Jordan may not know American history, but will absorb our official online messages and what they signal about who we are as a nation. These real-time communications, exploding across platforms, have no borders.
In our public rhetoric, we should present an America that is as hopeful, optimistic, and engaged with the world as we know our nation to be – continually striving to be the “city upon a hill” John Winthrop described in 1630. The United States can return to that place of ensuring our fundamental values of freedom, opportunity, accountability and compassion are showcased. We are a nation of plurality, and our messages to the world should present that truth.
