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Pew Finds U.S. Views of China Tick Up as 'Enemy' Label Recedes

The shift led by Democrats and younger adults precedes President Trump's planned May meeting with Xi Jinping in Beijing.

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a talk with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on April 15, 2026.
A woman uses a smartphone to film cherry blossoms at a public park in Beijing, April 5, 2026. (AP photo by Andy Wong)
BUSAN, SOUTH KOREA - OCTOBER 30: U.S. President Donald Trump greets Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of a bilateral meeting at Gimhae Air Base on October 30, 2025 in Busan, South Korea. Trump is meeting Xi for the first time since taking office for his second term, following months of growing tension between both countries. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Overview

  • American opinion of China, which Pew reported Tuesday, shows 27% favorable views, up six points from 2025 and nearly double the 2023 low.
  • Most respondents now call China a competitor, with 60% using that label, while 28% say enemy, down from 33% in 2025 and 42% in 2024.
  • Gains are concentrated on the left and among younger people, with favorability at about 34% for Democrats and for adults under 50, compared with 18% for Republicans and 19% for those 50 and older.
  • Confidence in President Trump to make good decisions on China has slipped to about 39% from 45% last August, while confidence in Xi Jinping doing the right thing in world affairs has edged up to about 17%.
  • Pew based the findings on two 2026 waves, in January and March 23–29, and the results land as Trump is scheduled to meet Xi in Beijing on May 14–15, a session that could test public appetite for cautious competition over confrontation.