Most Americans oppose President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement, with a majority saying the move will damage the United States' global leadership, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

Opposition to Trump's decision outpaces support for it by a roughly 2 to 1 margin, with 59 per cent opposing the move and 28 per cent in support. The reactions also break down sharply among partisan lines, though Republicans are not as united in support of the withdrawal as Democrats are in opposition of it. A 67 per cent majority of Republicans support Trump's action, but that drops to 22 per cent among political independents and 8 per cent of Democrats. Just over 6 in 10 independents and 8 in 10 Democrats oppose Trump's action.

The survey also finds broad scepticism toward Trump's argument that leaving the Paris agreement will benefit the US economy. While 32 per cent of respondents say his action will help the nation's economy, 42 per cent think it will hurt and 20 per cent say it will make no difference. On a separate question, slightly more people surveyed say that exiting the climate accord will cost jobs, such as those in renewable energy, than it will create jobs in the coal, oil and gas sectors.

Trump's decision to exit the landmark Paris climate agreement - a pact signed by more than 190 countries around the world - faced widespread criticism last week from US allies, major companies and mayors of numerous US cities, all of whom underscored their commitment to what they called the necessary task of combating climate change.