What do Czechs think about the upcoming US presidential elections?
With the US presidential election approaching on Tuesday, the race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump has captured global attention, including in Czechia. For some, American politics may seem distant. Other Czechs are closely watching the election because of its expected implications for transatlantic relations, economic stability, and shared democratic values.
In order to find out more of what people thought about the upcoming US election, we went to the streets of Prague to find out what Czechs think.
“Donald Trump is a little too extreme and out of touch. I think a lot of people would agree with me; he has a lot of problems with his personality and the motives for what he’s doing. So, that is one of the important factors I would say.
“And also I think the Russia component is important for the Czech people, we have a history with it. I think [the Republican presidential candidate] is very pro-Russian. That is something I think Czech people might be worried about.”
A poll by the NMS Market Research agency, published in September confirmed some of these concerns. It showed that most Czechs preferred the Democratic nominee for president Kamala Harris over her opponent Donald Trump. The survey found that roughly seven out of 10 people—69 percent—would choose the Democratic nominee.
The Republican nominee performed best among Czech men and those aged 25 to 34. However, even within this group, Harris maintained a significant lead, securing 64 percent of the vote.
In contrast, Harris received support from all age and education groups, with her strongest backing among university graduates and individuals aged 35 to 44. She also led among both genders, with over eight in 10 women—81 percent—indicating they would vote for her.
One young female student shared her concern over healthcare and reproductive rights:
“Yes, I was listening to a short report by Rádiožurnál on what both candidates have planned for healthcare. They mentioned that Trump would like to have an anti-vaxxer as their equivalent to a minister of health. So, that invoked a lot of unpleasant feelings. I can’t understand it. I also agree with Harris’ focus on reproductive rights, particularly on abortion, which is important to me.
“And I am very scared that Trump will win; I want Kamala Harris to win, but I think the US is conservative enough that Trump will win. I am happy that it’s close; I think that’s a success in and of itself. I am wishing luck to the US.”
Most expressed that it is a close race and that they were worried about the outcome of the US election:
“To be honest, I’m not looking forward to it because I’m wary of the results. I think Harris is going to win, but I don’t know. I think Trump is going to win a significant percentage.”
Another commentator said that Czech voters focus on different issues than in the US:
“Well, look, I think that in Czechia we focus on different topics. I don’t think the fact that she’s a woman is important to us. I don’t know if that’s what they focus on either. I think they focus on other issues. They’re very polarized and a lot of the political issues they focus on stem from that. I think that topics like the war in Ukraine or assistance to foreign countries resonate much more."
A Trump victory could push inflation higher in Czechia. As some analysts suggest, Trump’s proposed tariffs on imports from various countries, including the EU, are expected to create inflationary pressure. That could particularly impact Czechia's economy due to its reliance on its automotive manufacturing and exports.
In contrast, Harris has expressed her intention to maintain trade with Europe within a globalized framework. For that reason, and others, some in Czechia are more favorable to a Harris presidency over another Trump term in the Oval Office.
