An NBC News survey released Sunday shows that patriotism in America is increasingly divided along partisan lines, with fewer than 30% of Democrats reporting high levels of national pride ahead of the country's 250th anniversary next year. The poll finds that overall, about 56% of Americans say they are "extremely" or "very" proud to be American, while 29% report having little or no national pride at all.
The divide is stark when broken down by party affiliation and age. Roughly 90% of Republicans say they are proud to be American, compared with just 29% of Democrats who say the same. By age, about three-quarters of adults aged 65 and older report feeling proud of their country, while that figure drops to 36% among those ages 18 through 34. A majority of respondents, 58%, also said they believe the nation's best days are in the past rather than the future.
A separate survey conducted by Cygnal, a political polling and analytics firm, found similar trends. According to that poll, 58% of respondents overall say they are "extremely" or "very" proud to be American, including only 28% of voters under age 30. In that same survey, 30% of Democrats said they are "not at all" proud of the nation.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive analysts and Democratic strategists caution against reading patriotism polls solely through a partisan lens. Some argue that expressions of national pride among Democrats may reflect frustration with specific government policies rather than a rejection of the country itself. Critics note that younger Americans, who skew heavily Democratic, have grown up amid ongoing debates over systemic inequality, climate change, and economic mobility.
Democratic pollster John Rogers of Cygnal acknowledged the data in comments to other outlets but noted that women under 55 were the only demographic group that found Democrats offering a more compelling vision. Some progressive commentators argue that declining trust in institutions like colleges and universities reflects legitimate concerns about policy failures rather than anti-American sentiment. Others suggest that the partisan divide on patriotism has been amplified by political rhetoric and is not representative of all Americans who may express pride differently.
What the Right Is Saying
Republicans and conservative analysts point to the polling as evidence of a deepening ideological split in American civic life. Commentators argue that declining national pride among younger voters and Democrats represents a shift away from shared American values. Some Republican strategists see the data as offering a political opening, noting that swing voters trust Republicans over Democrats on immigration by a 53% to 23% margin, on crime by 47% to 22%, and on government spending by 39% to 23%.
Conservative voices argue that institutions once seen as pillars of American life are increasingly viewed through a partisan lens. The finding that some Americans trust colleges and universities over the U.S. military has drawn particular attention from those who argue this reflects a broader cultural shift. Some Republican leaders have called for renewed emphasis on civic education and national commemoration ahead of the 250th anniversary.
What the Numbers Show
The NBC News poll, conducted before its Sunday release, surveyed American adults and found 56% saying they are "extremely" or "very" proud to be American. By comparison, 29% reported having little pride or none at all. The partisan gap is pronounced: 90% of Republicans expressed high levels of national pride versus 29% of Democrats.
The generational divide follows a similar pattern. Among adults 65 and older, approximately 75% report feeling proud to be American. That figure falls to 36% among those aged 18 through 34. The Cygnal survey found that just 28% of voters under 30 are "extremely" or "very" proud to be American, with 30% of Democrats saying they are "not at all" proud.
On the question of national trajectory, 58% of Americans told NBC News that the country's best days lie in the past rather than ahead. The Cygnal poll found swing voters trust Republicans over Democrats on key issues including immigration, crime, and government spending by significant margins.
The Bottom Line
The dual surveys offer a portrait of an American public increasingly divided not just politically but in how it views the nation itself. With the country's 250th anniversary approaching next year, both parties face questions about how to appeal to voters whose sense of national identity has shifted along partisan lines. The polling suggests that age remains one of the strongest predictors of patriotism, with younger Americans expressing notably lower levels of national pride across party lines. Republicans see opportunity in the trust gaps on kitchen-table issues, while Democrats must contend with a narrative that they offer less compelling answers on the direction of the country. How each side responds to these trends could shape political coalitions heading into future elections.