A new international poll reveals that while people across the ideological spectrum are equally likely to say they themselves are patriotic, overt displays of national pride have become politically coded as right-wing behavior. The POLITICO survey, conducted by London-based Public First in June, found that right-wing populist parties across major Western democracies are now more associated with national pride than center-right or mainstream conservative parties.
The findings show the extent to which these parties — from Donald Trump's "America First" movement in the United States to Marine Le Pen's National Rally in France and Alternative for Germany (AfD) — have successfully claimed patriotism as central to their political identities. The poll surveyed adults in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany and Spain.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive politicians and commentators argue that patriotism does not belong to any one party and that love of country can include critical examination of its flaws. They note that majorities across all five countries surveyed expressed pride in their nations, suggesting that national sentiment remains broadly shared despite political polarization. In the United States, 68 percent of adults — including most Trump 2024 voters and former Vice President Kamala Harris voters — said they are proud to be American.
Center-left parties have faced an ongoing internal debate over how to engage with patriotic symbols without appearing to concede ground to their opponents. Some progressive voices argue that the left has ceded too much rhetorical territory on national identity, while others maintain that patriotism rooted in democratic values and social justice represents a legitimate alternative framework. Critics on the left contend that right-wing parties have weaponized flag-waving and national pride as political tools rather than expressions of genuine sentiment.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative and far-right politicians say their embrace of national pride reflects the genuine concerns of ordinary citizens who feel disconnected from globalized elite institutions. Trump has explicitly made national identity central to Republican messaging through "America First" policies, promises to secure the southern border, and aggressive trade positions aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing.
European right-wing parties have similarly centered campaigns on immigration, borders and cultural identity. The poll found that Trump's rhetoric resonates strongly among far-right voters abroad: 70 percent of Reform U.K. supporters, 68 percent of National Rally supporters in France, and 77 percent of Spain's Vox supporters said a "Make [their country] Great Again" pledge would make them feel more positive about a candidate. Kevin Madden, a longtime Republican communications strategist, argued that polarization is driving perceptions: "Political polarization is coloring views through a left-right, us-versus-them political lens," he said.
What the Numbers Show
The polling reveals stark associations between patriotic expression and political identity. In the United Kingdom, 29 percent of adults said they would expect someone who expressed pride in being British to support Nigel Farage's Reform U.K., compared with just 13 percent for the center-right Conservative Party — a 16-point gap. Similar patterns emerged across other European nations: France saw 30 percent associate Marine Le Pen's National Rally with national pride; Germany showed 35 percent linking patriotism to AfD; and Spain registered 29 percent connecting it to Vox.
In the United States, respondents were 15 points more likely to expect a patriotic American to be Republican (38 percent) than Democratic (23 percent). Despite these partisan associations, underlying national sentiment remains high: majorities of adults in all five countries surveyed said they are proud of their country. The data suggests that while personal pride is nonpartisan, public expressions of patriotism have become entangled with right-wing political identity.
The Bottom Line
The poll highlights a fundamental tension in contemporary Western politics: citizens across the ideological spectrum express similar levels of national pride, yet perceive patriotic displays as belonging to one side of the political divide. This creates challenges for center-left and centrist parties seeking to reclaim overt symbols of patriotism without appearing to validate right-wing framing.
For policymakers and party strategists, the findings suggest that debates over national identity — including discussions of immigration, sovereignty and cultural values — will increasingly define electoral competition. The question remains whether progressive parties can offer an alternative vision of patriotism or whether they will continue to cede that rhetorical ground to their opponents. Watch for how both sides adapt their messaging ahead of upcoming elections in Germany and other European nations where national identity remains a central campaign theme.