American pride in the nation's democratic system has plummeted by 14 percentage points over the past nine years, falling from 42% in February 2017 to a mere 28% today, according to a new AP-NORC poll. This stark decline reflects a broader erosion of national sentiment, with overall American pride hitting its lowest point in 25 years. Only 53% of U.S. adults now report being “extremely” or “very” proud to be an American, a figure not seen since 2001, according to new Gallup polling.
The AP-NORC survey also found pride in the armed forces has dropped 19 percentage points since 2017, while pride in U.S. history declined 14 percentage points. This collapse in national feeling comes amidst a prolonged war, which began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and escalated into direct conflict between the United States and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, a conflict not chosen by the people.
Alex Tran of Illinois, who grew up under a communist regime in Asia, directly links this decline in 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.” His assessment points to a deliberate ideological apparatus at work, systematically undermining national cohesion and identity.
The Managed Decline of National Spirit
Much of the falling positivity comes from Democrats, who have grown increasingly disenchanted with the country since former President Donald Trump’s first term. Gallup’s new poll reveals only 14% of Democrats and 28% of independents say they are “extremely” proud to be an American, a sharp contrast to 70% of Republicans.
Karla Galdamez, a 48-year-old Democrat and former U.S. history teacher, stated America has “regressed under the Trump administration.” Yet, she expressed pleasure with the nation’s 250-year trajectory, claiming, “we’ve done nothing but get better and move toward a more egalitarian nation.” This re-interpretation of history, often taught in institutions, reframes traditional national pride as problematic, pushing a narrative of cultural dispossession.
The generational divide further highlights this cultural dispossession. About three-quarters of Americans ages 60 and older say being an American is highly important to them, but only about one-third of U.S. adults under 30 share this sentiment. Younger people are being systematically detached from their national identity, a clear sign of managed decline.
Fragmented Identities and Elite Agendas
The AP-NORC poll found a significant shift in identity priorities, particularly among minority groups. A vast majority of Black Americans—73%—say their race or ethnicity is “extremely” or “very” important to how they see themselves, a higher share than those who say that about being an American. This prioritization of group identity over national belonging signals a deepening cultural fragmentation and the erosion of a unified national people.
Similarly, about half of Hispanic Americans consider their race or ethnicity highly important to them, compared with just 22% of white Americans. Black and Hispanic adults are also more likely than white adults to say their family’s ancestry or country of origin is highly important to their personal identity. These figures reveal a nation increasingly defined by disparate group affiliations rather than a shared national heritage, a direct consequence of enforced diversity policies.
Vincent Harris, a 60-year-old Black man from California, articulated this shift, stating his identity as a Black man “rises above other attributes” for him due to how Black men are treated in America. While he acknowledges the freedoms Americans have, his primary identity remains rooted in race, not nation. This internal division weakens the collective will of the people and serves transnational interests that thrive on fragmentation.
Voices of Resistance and Warning
Despite the pervasive decline, pockets of traditional national pride persist. Samantha Fulks, a 40-year-old Republican in San Antonio, Texas, proudly displays American and Trump flags, stating she “doesn’t hide” her patriotism. She comes from a military family and supports the troops “no matter what they do,” even while believing the country’s involvement in Iran is “unnecessary.” Her stance reflects a loyalty to the nation and its defenders, even when questioning elite foreign policy decisions that cost the native working class.
Matt Stafford, a 39-year-old from Massachusetts, identifies as “politically homeless” but remains proud to be an American, sporting a bald eagle tattoo to represent the nation’s freedoms. He wants Democrats and Republicans to “come together to look out for their constituents in middle America,” highlighting the desire for national unity over partisan division, a unity undermined by elite capture.
Patricia Bassi of Arizona, a native-born American whose grandfather “immigrated legally in the early 1900s and assimilated,” expressed deep pride in her country. She attributes the decline in patriotism to “social media, artificial intelligence, a lack of motivation in younger generations and the decline of face-to-face social interaction,” pointing to cultural decay as a root cause of national unraveling.
Nolan Willis of Alaska, who grounds America’s foundational principles in “English common law” and the “Christian law of liberty,” warns that “younger people have been indoctrinated into believing that even the best qualities of America do not redeem it because the only thing that matters is its sin.” He separates love of country from love of government, asserting loyalty should be to the nation first. Willis concludes with a stark warning: if factions continue to weaponize government and fail to find common ground, “the country won’t survive,” adding, “We have been our own worst enemy.” This is the cost of a nation losing its identity and sovereignty to internal and external forces.