Americans’ pride in the way democracy works in the U.S. has declined 14 percentage points, from 42% in February 2017 to 28% now, according to a new AP-NORC poll. This erosion of faith in the system comes as the nation wages a prolonged war, with the U.S. and Israel launching strikes on Iran and the United States and Iran fighting over the Strait of Hormuz. The survey, conducted in April, reveals a public increasingly disillusioned with the state’s functions and its global posture.
The Cost of Empire
Pride in the armed forces has dropped 19 percentage points since 2017, even as the U.S. military continues its interventions abroad. Samantha Fulks, a 40-year-old in San Antonio, Texas, stated her support for troops “no matter what they do,” despite believing the country’s involvement in Iran is unnecessary. Republicans, however, remain largely committed to the military, with about 9 in 10 saying it makes them “extremely” or “very” proud, compared with about 6 in 10 U.S. adults overall. This stark division highlights how the projection of imperial power is increasingly questioned by segments of the population, even as the state continues to deploy its military apparatus.
Nolan Willis of Alaska, while expressing pride in America, also noted that the U.S. might have enabled oppressive regimes through foreign aid, allowing them to remain “financially viable” rather than collapsing. He also credits the U.S. with stopping Iran’s “advancing capabilities to strike other nations,” framing military action as a defense against tyranny. These views underscore the persistent narrative of global intervention as a necessary act, despite the documented decline in public pride in the very forces carrying out these actions.
Democracy's Diminished Promise
Only 53% of U.S. adults are “extremely” or “very” proud to be an American, marking the lowest reading in Gallup polling dating back 25 years to 2001. This broad decline in patriotic sentiment follows a tumultuous period that included most of President Donald Trump’s first term, the COVID-19 pandemic, and rising inflation that contributed to a backlash against President Joe Biden. Trump’s return to the White House has seen more aggressive actions on immigration and foreign policy, further exacerbating these tensions. The economic hardship faced by working people, particularly the impact of inflation, directly undermines any claims of a functioning democracy serving its constituents.
Much of the falling positivity stems from Democrats, who have grown increasingly disenchanted since Trump’s first term. Only 14% of Democrats and 28% of independents report being “extremely” proud to be an American, a stark contrast to 70% of Republicans. Matt Stafford, a 39-year-old centrist from Massachusetts, expressed frustration with the political system, calling for Democrats and Republicans to “come together to look out for their constituents in middle America.” Such calls for unity, however, fail to address the systemic issues of wealth concentration and state-backed capital that fuel public discontent.
Identity Beyond the State
For many, identity is rooted in experiences beyond national affiliation. The AP-NORC survey found that 73% of Black Americans say their race or ethnicity is “extremely” or “very” important to how they see themselves, a higher share than those who say the same about being an American. Vincent Harris, a 60-year-old Black man in California, stated his identity as a Black man rises above other attributes due to how Black men are treated in America. “People don’t even take you for who you are as a person; they just look at your race,” he said. About half of Hispanic Americans also prioritize their race or ethnicity, compared with 22% of white Americans.
Younger people are also significantly less likely than older generations to say being an American is highly important to their personal identity. Only about one-third of U.S. adults under 30 consider it highly important, compared with three-quarters of those aged 60 and older. This generational divide suggests a growing detachment from nationalistic narratives, particularly among those who have come of age amidst economic precarity and continuous imperialist wars.
Managing Discontent
As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, official bodies like America250, a “nonpartisan commission established by Congress,” and Freedom 250, led by President Donald Trump, aim to manage the national narrative. However, public commentary reveals deep divisions. Karla Galdamez, a 48-year-old Democrat, expressed pride in the U.S.’s “trajectory of the last 250 years” toward a “more egalitarian nation,” despite acknowledging “ugly history” like segregation and slavery. This liberal framing often overlooks the ongoing structural inequalities and the state’s role in perpetuating them.
Conversely, Alex Tran of Illinois, who grew up under a “communist regime in Asia,” attributes declining patriotism to the “rise of the progressive, woke and far-left movement, supported by corrupted politicians, living-in-the-bubble elites and dishonest corporate news.” This perspective, which decorates his house with U.S. flags, deflects blame from the capitalist system and its inherent contradictions, instead targeting those who challenge the existing order. These conflicting narratives demonstrate the ruling class’s struggle to maintain ideological hegemony in the face of widespread disillusionment.