... but Donald is more trusted to stand up to foreign foes

DONALD Trump is more trusted to stand up to China, Russia and Iran than Joe Biden, the poll shows. The former US president is ahead of his successor by a margin of 46 per cent to 39 – and leads in every age group.

By a margin of 43 to 42 per cent, Mr Biden is more trusted with America’s nuclear arsenal. Among 18 to 21-yearolds, however, Mr Trump has a nine per cent lead on the nuclear question. He is significantly ahead among men, with 51 per cent backing him compared with 38 per cent supporting Mr Biden. Women put both contenders at 41 per cent.

The poll comes at a time when the West is increasingly under threat from China, Russia and Iran. Whoever wins the race for the White House will be crucial to its defence. Isolationist Mr Trump has long railed against China and is likely to start a trade war with it if he returns to power. Biden has vowed to support Taiwan if China invade, which Mr Trump hasn’t.

Russia is more difficult for the former president, as there are fears he would drop the US’s support for Ukraine, which Biden has fought hard to keep. Mr Trump is more likely to heavily sanction Iran and pulled the US out of a landmark nuclear deal with the country in 2018. He also oversaw the assassination of one of its top generals.

Mr Biden has defended Israel against direct attacks from Iran and has sanctioned the country’s leaders as the war in Gaza continues.