---
title: "Most Americans have negative view of Putin as Sochi games begin"
description: "About six-in-ten Americans have an unfavorable view of Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a Washington Post/ABC News survey."
date: "2014-02-05"
authors:
  - name: "Bruce Drake"
    job_title: "Former Senior Editor"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/bruce-drake/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2014/02/05/most-americans-have-negative-view-of-putin-as-sochi-games-begin/"
categories:
  - "Vladimir Putin"
---

# Most Americans have negative view of Putin as Sochi games begin

Russian President Vladimir Putin worked hard to get the International Olympic Committee to [award this year’s winter games to Russia](http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/01/vlamidir-putin-sochi-olympics-102342.html#.UvJ0DfldV8E) and then plowed about [$51 billion](http://qz.com/172180/the-sochi-olympics-are-going-to-cost-more-than-the-last-13-olympics-combined/) to turn the Black Sea resort of Sochi, with its subtropical climate, into a fitting site. But if the Russian leader hoped to burnish his country’s image, and his own, the effort has fallen short —at least, with the U.S. public.

About six-in-ten (58%) Americans expressed an unfavorable view of Putin compared with 27% who saw him favorably, according to a new [Washington Post/ABC News survey](http://www.washingtonpost.com/page/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/02/05/National-Politics/Polling/release_292.xml?uuid=EEmidI5dEeOHjtdmVlZKAQ).

The poll also found that just half of Americans have a favorable impression of this year’s event while 40% have an unfavorable view. By comparison, 72% of Americans had a favorable view of the 2012 summer Olympics held in London, the [survey noted](http://www.washingtonpost.com/page/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2012/07/26/National-Politics/Polling/question_6196.xml?uuid=rLYDpNcIEeGn0g5bPVDVzg).

[![Indian public would prefer the Bharatiya Janata Party rather than the ruling Indian National Congress party to lead the next Indian government.](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2014/02/FT_14.02.26_IndiaElection.png?w=189)](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2014/02/FT_14.02.26_IndiaElection.png)

![Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) tries an Olympic volunteers uniform, visiting an equipment centre in Sochi on January 4, 2014. Credit: ALEXEY NIKOLSKY/AFP/Getty Images](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2014/02/FT_14.02.05_PutinFavorability.jpg)
*Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) tries an Olympic volunteers uniform, visiting an equipment center in Sochi on January 4, 2014. Credit: ALEXEY NIKOLSKY/AFP/Getty Images*

A [ Pew Research Center survey](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2014/02/04/public-skeptical-of-decision-to-hold-olympic-games-in-russia/) conducted at about the same time as the Post/ABC News poll asked whether Americans thought it had been a mistake to award the games to Russia. The survey found that 44% of Americans thought it was a bad decision compared to 32% who saw it as a good one, with the rest expressing no opinion. Among those who thought it was a bad decision, 62% cited security concerns. (The New York Times showcased a front page story on Wednesday headlined, “[An Olympics in the Shadow of a War Zone](http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/05/world/europe/an-olympics-in-the-shadow-of-a-war-zone.html?hp)”).

Russia also had to deal with bad publicity about [Russia’s anti-gay policies](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2013/12/26/obama-had-strong-support-from-lgbt-adults-before-stance-on-sochi-olympics/), although the Pew Research survey found that, among Americans who thought holding the games in Russia was a mistake, only 4% cited that country’s treatment of gays and lesbians.

As for Putin’s standing with Americans, he has presided over a [chilly period of relations](http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/03/world/europe/us-russian-ties-still-fall-short-of-reset-goal.html) with the U.S. since his [return to the presidency](http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/08/world/europe/vladimir-putin-returns-to-presidency-in-russia.html?pagewanted=all) in 2012. A [Pew Research survey](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2013/12/03/section-5-public-views-of-selected-countries/) conducted last Oct. 30-Nov.6 found Russia near the bottom of a list of 12 countries when it came to how Americans viewed them. Just 32% had a favorable view of Russia, putting it just ahead of the least positively viewed country, Saudi Arabia (27%) and about the same as China (33%).