---
title: "U.S.-French views of each other much improved as Hollande pays a visit"
description: "About six-in-ten Americans have a favorable view of France, much improved after tensions over Iraq in 2003."
date: "2014-02-11"
authors:
  - name: "Richard Wike"
    job_title: "Director, Global Attitudes Research"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/richard-wike/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2014/02/11/u-s-french-views-of-each-other-much-improved-as-hollande-pays-a-visit/"
---

# U.S.-French views of each other much improved as Hollande pays a visit

As the White House prepares to host French President François Hollande for a state visit, the “freedom fries” era seems a distant memory. In 2003, angered by French opposition to the Iraq War, House leaders [changed the name of French fries](http://www.cbsnews.com/news/do-you-want-freedom-fries-with-that/) in three congressional cafeterias (French toast also became “freedom toast”).

A [Pew Research Center poll](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2003/06/03/chapter-1-post-war-opinions/#us-france) conducted in 2003 highlighted France’s poor image among Americans at the time – just 29% gave France a favorable rating. A decade later, however, an [updated survey](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2013/12/03/section-5-public-views-of-selected-countries/) conducted last year found twice as many (59%) expressing a positive view of the country Secretary of State John Kerry [described last August](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/10277510/Syria-John-Kerry-slaps-Britain-in-face-as-he-calls-France-oldest-allies.html) as “our oldest ally.”

[![DN_US-France](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2014/02/DN_US-France.png)](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2014/02/DN_US-France.png)

Still, partisan divisions linger. Two-thirds of Democrats give France a favorable rating, compared with six-in-ten independents and just half of Republicans. Among Tea Party supporters, only 39% have a positive view of France.

For their part, the French are much more positive about the U.S. than they were a decade ago. In 2013, [64% gave the U.S. a favorable rating](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2013/07/18/chapter-1-attitudes-toward-the-united-states/), compared with only 42% back in 2003. President Obama, who will host Hollande for a state dinner tonight, is especially popular in France, where 83% express confidence in him. In contrast, just 20% had confidence in President George W. Bush in 2003.

The state visit takes place as Hollande [deals with scandal](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25959740) in his private life. The French president recently separated from partner Valerie Trierweiler, following allegations that he had an affair with actress Julie Gayet. This may be less of a problem for Hollande than it would be for politicians elsewhere, however, since the French are [less troubled](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2014/01/14/french-more-accepting-of-infidelity-than-people-in-other-countries/) by infidelity than others around the world. In a 39-nation 2013 Pew Research poll, France was the only country in which less than half said affairs are unacceptable.