NEW YORK: Results of a global poll show Donald Trump’s candidacy could make terror attacks more likely and wreak havoc on the global economy.

The poll released on Thursday night comes at the heels of Mr Trump securing needed delegates for the Republican nomination for the president of the United States.

The poll, conducted by YouGov on behalf of the global campaigning movement Avaaz, surveyed citizens in six of the US’s top trading partners, France, Germany, the UK, Mexico, Canada and Japan on the heels of Trump’s April 27 foreign policy speech.

It found that among respondents with a good knowledge of his political views: 78 per cent say Trump’s political views make the world less safe; 61pc say they make a major terror attack like Brussels or Paris more likely; 74pc say Trump’s politics have had a negative effect on their view of America; and 71pc say Trump’s political views are bad for the global economy.

From suggesting that Muslims be temporarily banned from entering the US to proposing a giant wall be built along the border with Mexico, Trump has focused repeatedly on global security and tackling terrorism. However, this poll suggests there is deep-seated concern around the world that Trump’s rhetoric might instigate those very attacks.

Ricken Patel, CEO of Avaaz, said in a press statement “Most of the world agrees with most Americans — the Donald is dangerously dumb. A dream for ISIS and a nightmare for the rest of us. Though it’s actually wonderfully hopeful to see how people everywhere are united against Trump’s politics of division, because we all know the only way we meet challenges like terrorism and climate change, is together.”

The perception of Trump among the majority of polled respondents across every country polled is resoundingly negative, with results varying very little by country or age. When asked how Trump’s views make them feel, 78pc of polled respondents said they hated or disliked them — the most common words chosen to describe their feelings toward Trump’s views were concerned (62pc), ‘sick to my stomach’ (41pc), and angry (39pc). Just 5pc said Trump’s views made them ‘hopeful’.

Results also show that Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric, which has targeted Muslims, Mexicans, and women, is damaging America’s reputation abroad, with 74pc of polled respondents saying they thought less of America thanks to Trump’s hardline views.

The poll comes on the back of a letter to Trump from the Avaaz movement that was signed by more than two million people around the world. As an excerpt of the letter reads: “As citizens of the world, we stand united against your brand of division...Facing your fear we choose compassion. Hearing your despair we choose hope. Seeing your ignorance we choose understanding.”

Published in Dawn, May 28th, 2016