Why do Singaporeans like Trump? Survey findings hint at their pragmatism

Most respondents say Trump’s return to the White House is positive for Singapore, particularly among older Singaporeans

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US President Donald Trump and then-Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong shake hands at the Istana in Singapore in 2018. Photo: Reuters

Published: 10:00am, 24 Jan 2025

Most Singaporeans have welcomed the return of US President Donald Trump to the White House, according to a quarterly survey, with the findings seen by analysts as a reflection of the respondents’ pragmatism and conservative values.

A total of 1,500 respondents from Singapore were asked by Blackbox Research whether Trump’s second term in office would be positive or negative for the city state.

While the findings released on Wednesday did not offer an insight into the values of the Singaporeans surveyed, David Black, founder of the market research firm, said the respondents found Trump’s traits as a “leader of action” appealing.

“Trump rails against a lot of recent social trends, sometimes characterised as ‘woke’. More traditional Singaporeans relate to aspects of this pushback, especially those between 50 and 60.”

Almost 70 per cent of respondents across different age groups said a Trump presidency would be positive for Singapore. The level of support for the US leader among Singaporeans aged 50 to 59 was the highest among the age groups, at almost 80 per cent.

Elaine Claire, a 33-year-old Singaporean entrepreneur, welcomed Trump’s return to the White House. Citing Trump’s order to delay the ban on popular Chinese app TikTok, Claire said Trump was a strong leader who would bring about positive change.