By Reagan Steele – Business & Economic Policy Writer

After 25 years of tracking public sentiment, the 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer delivers a sobering message: across the world, people are angry, suspicious, and increasingly convinced that the system isn’t working for them.

Drawing from a global survey of over 33,000 respondents across 28 countries, the report finds widespread erosion of trust in government, media, and even long-standing societal institutions. In much of the Western world—especially in the U.S. and Europe—trust continues to spiral downward, while countries across Asia and the Middle East report significantly higher levels of institutional confidence.

The U.S., by contrast, comes in at a bleak 47 on the Trust Index—a full 9 points behind Indonesia, and tied with France and Ireland. Elections, despite being pitched as a reset button, have largely failed to move the needle. Of 13 nations that held national elections or changes in leadership, only two—Argentina and South Africa—showed meaningful gains in trust.

The overarching theme of this year’s findings is what Edelman calls the “Crisis of Grievance.” Six in ten respondents globally now report harboring moderate to high levels of resentment against business, government, and the wealthy. They believe the system is rigged, the powerful are self-serving, and the future looks worse for the next generation than it does today. In developed nations, less than 1 in 5 believe their children will be better off.

Perhaps most concerning is the rise in nihilism. Nearly 40% of global respondents—more than half among young adults—say they approve of hostile activism to achieve social change. This includes attacking people online, spreading disinformation, or even damaging public and private property.

Job insecurity is climbing, too. Majorities of employees worry about being replaced by AI, losing work to overseas competitors, or being unprepared for the next economic downturn. Trust in employers—a bright spot in recent years—has dropped significantly in 2025.

Despite this grim landscape, business remains the most trusted institution globally, though even that margin is narrowing. CEOs, according to the report, are still seen as justified in addressing societal issues—but only if it serves performance and delivers tangible impact.

Income-based trust inequality remains another sore spot. The lowest-earning quarter of the population consistently report far less trust than the highest earners, particularly in Western economies. In the U.S., this divide reflects a deeper dissatisfaction that can’t be solved with slogans or top-down messaging.

The media fares no better. A majority of people—especially those with high levels of grievance—say news outlets prioritize ideology and audience reach over facts. Distrust in traditional news sources continues to climb, while trust in search engines and social media has fallen sharply.

In the end, the report calls for collective action—an “all institutions on deck” approach—to rebuild trust. But whether that’s realistic in a political climate defined by polarization, institutional fatigue, and digital misinformation remains an open question.

Until then, one thing is clear: people aren’t buying the old narratives anymore.