Donald Trump's election as United States president would trigger a collapse in support for Australia's alliance with the US, according to a poll. Forty-five per cent of voters believe Australia should distance itself from the US if it elects a president such as Mr Trump, compared with 51 per cent who say the alliance should remain strong regardless. "It's a striking and somewhat disturbing result, because one of the strongest and most consistent polling results in the Lowy Institute's history has been support for the US alliance," executive director Michael Fullilove said. In 2015, 80 per cent of Australian adults said the relationship was very or fairly important. Respondents were not asked their specific thoughts on Mr Trump, but Mr Fullilove noted the billionaire's penchant for "outrageous and appalling" remarks. The property developer and TV host has shocked foreign policy observers with his positions on isolating the US from international obligations and alliances, empowering Asian countries to attain nuclear weapons and forcing Mexico to pay for a wall on their border.