Only 30-percent of the world approves of U-S leadership according to a new poll. The 2018 "Rating World Leaders" survey conducted by Gallup, puts Chinese leadership ahead of the United States. CGTN's Nathan King has the story.

America First is US President Donald Trump's policy, but when it comes to global leadership more people think it's more like America Third. The findings from more than 130 countries show a significant slippage in approval of US leadership.

Under US President Obama in 2016, US leadership had a rating of 48%. Now it's 30%. China was higher, at 31%. And Germany was the top rated global power at 41%. Some of biggest percentage drops are among close friends and allies with big drops in Canada and Mexico. Trump famously said he was elected to represent Pittsburgh, not Paris. But in a recent domestic poll, Trump's US numbers are not good either. Out of the last four US presidents, Trump has by far the worst approval rating.

The US does see gains in the Middle East-especially in Israel where approval jumped more than 10% but that happened in over just a few other nations. The 2018 poll sees big gains for China on the American continent, especially among Latin American countries. In Africa, US and Chinese leadership received 51 and 50 % approval ratings, respectively. In a speech Wednesday in New York, China's ambassador to the US says the difference with China's foreign policy is that it will not seek to dominate. 

CUI TIANKAI CHINESE AMBASSADOR TO THE US "Our focus is not on the transfer of dominance from one power to another. Our aim is build a new type of international relations and a community of mankind for a shared future."

This latest poll was conducted before the US President's latest alleged comments disparaging African nations.

NATHAN KING WASHINGTON DC "The big question is whether these numbers are about the policies of the United States or about Donald Trump, himself. We'll see in the next year whether US policies - when it comes to trade, engagement with the rest of the world - will see these poll numbers rise or fall further. Nathan King, CGTN at the White House in Washington, DC."