Confidence in U.S. institutions continues to fall

Americans have become significantly less trusting of the government, the judiciary and the armed forces, as a result of which the U.S. has fallen behind most of the G7 countries in terms of trust.

This is stated in a new analysis of the sociological service Gallup.

About 68% of Americans do not trust the government of their country.

Trust in the judicial system is at an even lower level – 42%.

Even the U.S. military, a traditionally popular institution, has seen a decline in public trust – from 90% in 2021 to 81% last year.

The G7 is made up of the leading industrialized nations of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US.

Among the G7 countries, Germany had the lowest level of public trust in the armed forces, with nearly 60% expressing distrust.

The American public is divided over the country’s military budget in a situation where the U.S. spends more on its armed forces than all other G7 countries combined.

Some 35% believe this spending is too much, 29% believe it is too little, and 33% believe it is optimal.

Trust in churches and organized religion has been steadily declining, with 30% of Americans expressing “very little” trust in these institutions last year, the highest level since Gallup began asking the question in 1973.

The erosion of trust was also reflected in the media. More than 40% reported very low levels of trust, especially in newspapers and television.