National Pride Declines
AP-NORC Poll Shows American Pride at Decade-Low, Driven by Partisan and Generational Gaps
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Key Points
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Nearly nine in ten Republicans view the military as a source of national pride, far higher than the broader population, where only about six in ten share that pride.
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Older adults are notably more likely to tie being American to their identity: about 75% of adults aged 60 and older say it is highly important, compared with fewer than 1 in 3 of those under 30.
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Beyond military and democracy, the AP-NORC poll also notes declines in Americans’ pride in the United States' global influence.
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The AP-NORC poll was conducted in April amid heightened Strait of Hormuz tensions related to strikes on Iran, providing the political context for the period surveyed.
American national pride has fallen to its lowest point in 25 years, with only 53% of U.S. adults saying they are extremely or very proud to be American, according to AP-NORC. A separate Gallup survey found just 33% now say they are "extremely proud" — the weakest reading since Gallup began asking the question in 2001.
The decline cuts across several pillars of national identity. Pride in how U.S. democracy works dropped 14 points since 2017. Pride in the armed forces fell 19 points in the same period. The polls were conducted in April and May 2026, as the U.S. was engaged in a military conflict with Iran and gas prices were surging nationwide.
A Partisan Gap Wider Than Ever Before
The numbers tell a stark story of division. About 70% of Republicans say they are extremely proud to be American, according to AP-NORC. Among Democrats, that number is just 14%. Independents land at 28%. That is a 56-point gap between the two major parties — one of the largest on record.
Analysts say the biggest driver of the Democratic drop is the return of President Donald Trump to the White House. Military.com noted that his administration's aggressive foreign policy and immigration enforcement have left many Democrats deeply "disenchanted" with the country's direction. One Democrat surveyed by the AP, 48-year-old Karla Galdamez, said her pride has eroded steadily since Trump's first term.
Iran Conflict and Gas Prices Drag Down Military Pride
For the first time in recent memory, the U.S. military is no longer a unifying source of national pride. Pride in the armed forces has dropped 19 points since 2017, AP-NORC found. Today, roughly six in ten Americans overall say the military makes them proud. Among Republicans, that figure is nearly nine in ten.
The timing matters. The AP-NORC poll ran April 16–20, 2026 — weeks after joint U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran triggered an IRGC blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The blockade cut off roughly 25% of the world's seaborne oil trade. With gas prices spiking and 59% of Americans saying the conflict has "gone too far," the military's traditional status as a non-partisan symbol has taken a hit, according to Military.com.
Young Americans Are Tuning Out National Identity
Age is one of the clearest fault lines in the data. About 75% of adults aged 60 and older say being American is highly important to their identity, according to AP-NORC. Among adults under 30, fewer than 1 in 3 say the same. That is a gap of more than 40 percentage points between the oldest and youngest adults.
Sociologists point to what they call a "generational decoupling" from traditional patriotism. Younger Americans are more likely to tie their identity to social causes or global citizenship. They are less likely to see patriotism and nationalism as separate ideas. This shift suggests the overall decline in pride may deepen in the years ahead as younger generations make up a larger share of the electorate.
America Turns 250 With a Nation Feeling Divided
The timing could not be more awkward. The U.S. is weeks away from celebrating its 250th birthday on July 4, 2026. The non-partisan America250 commission partnered with Gallup to gauge public mood ahead of the milestone. While 66% of Americans say they plan to mark the occasion, the data shows a country "marked by division and doubt," in the words of NBC News analyst Steve Kornacki.
Only 28% of Americans believe the country is headed in the right direction, AP-NORC found. That leaves 72% saying the U.S. is on the wrong track. Pride in America's global influence has also declined alongside democracy and military pride. As the semiquincentennial approaches, the polls suggest the celebration may feel more like a moment of reflection than a rally.
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