I feel like so many non Muslims' (who haven't been given dawah directly) perceptions of Islam are deeply corrupted by polemics and propaganda that they can't even say they know the actual message of Islam is "laa ilaha illAllah Muhammadan rasul Allah." Like even if they know what the shahada is, it's so buried underneath islamophobic distractions that these people are sufficiently deceived out of being able to accept its truthfulness.
It makes me think there will be a lot more ppl on the day of judgment classified as "not having heard the message" than we thought, rather than people who heard and rejected the message. Obviously these people are like sheep and they're also so deluded by secularism and other ignorant ideas that are out of their control, but Allahu alam.
Could it be that these Americans (lol) might be considered among those that Allah SWT tests separately on the day of judgment like Prophet ﷺ mentioned? I think al ghazali rahimahullah held a view similar to this but perhaps someone else can confirm that for me. JazakAllah khair