Pride in America Takes a Hit Among Democrats

During the first year of President Donald Trump’s second term, patriotism appears to have declined significantly among Democrats, overshadowing a rise in Republican pride. A Gallup poll conducted among American adults from June 2 to 19 revealed that only 58% of respondents who feel proud to be American indicates a new low. The poll emphasized that Democrats contributed the most to this drop, with only 36% expressing extreme pride, a notable decrease from 62% in the previous year. Interestingly, pride among independents has also seen a decline, but it’s less dramatic—down just 7 points.

On the Republican side, there’s a different narrative. Despite a slight dip in pride from Democratic leaders, Republicans report feeling prouder than ever to be American. According to Gallup, Republican national pride is usually stable, consistently above 90%. The latest figures show an increase from 85% to 92% in 2024. It’s worth noting that only in 2016 and the recent years of 2020 to 2024 did Republicans show lower pride levels.

In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, national pride soared to over 90%. However, it has gradually diminished since then, especially after the Iraq War and during the Black Lives Matter movement.

Interestingly, while the decline in pride is largely attributed to Democrats, Republicans seem to relish their identity more than ever. Patriotism seems to be a defining characteristic of Republican affiliation. The Gallup poll indicates that there’s been a consistent decline in pride, with only 41% of Generation Z adults (born between 1997 and 2012) claiming they feel proud to be American.