Australian trust in the United States has hit a record low, while the public mood towards China has warmed for the fourth year in a row, according to a new opinion poll.

In an unprecedented shift, 51 per cent of those surveyed said the country’s relationship with China was more important than that with the US, compared with 45 per cent who said America should take priority.

Only 31 per cent of those questioned in the Lowy Institute’s annual poll said they trusted the US to act responsibly in the world, a five-point drop compared with last year and a record low.

The US trust score has dropped steadily over the past four years, while the Chinese total has been rising and hit 28 per cent in this year’s survey.

In 2022, 65 per cent of those surveyed said they trusted the US, while only 12 per cent trusted China.

Faith in US President Donald Trump also hit a record low. Just 21 per cent of those surveyed said they trusted him to do the right thing, the lowest figure recorded in the poll so far.