Survey Says is a weekly collection rounding up a very powerful polling traits or knowledge factors it’s essential to learn about, plus a vibe verify on a development that’s driving politics.
The Fourth of July is supposed to be a celebration of nationwide delight. However in 2025, many Individuals aren’t feeling particularly patriotic.
A brand new YouGov survey exhibits that nationwide delight is waning. Solely 68% of Individuals say they’re proud to be American, a sharp decline from 83% in 2024. Lower than half (48%) say they’re very proud, in contrast with 56% final yr.
Republicans are more likely than Democrats to specific delight in being American—and this hole has widened since final yr. Eighty-two % of Republicans say they’re very proud to be American, in contrast with simply 27% of Democrats. In 2024, the distinction was notable however narrower: 74% of Republicans versus 52% of Democrats. This alteration probably pertains to who’s within the White Home.
Democrats’ declining patriotism has lengthy mirrored the rise of President Donald Trump. In 2017, the yr he first took workplace, Gallup discovered that about two-thirds of Democrats (67%) mentioned they had been “extraordinarily” or “very” proud to be American. However by 2020—simply earlier than Trump misplaced reelection—that quantity was simply 42%.
Now that Trump is again in workplace, delight amongst Democrats seems to be falling once more. Nevertheless it’s not nearly Trump. An extended development predates his presidency.
Gallup’s knowledge exhibits that nationwide delight has been fairly steadily lowering since at the very least 2001. The most recent figures point out that solely 58% of Individuals describe themselves as extraordinarily or very proud to be American—the bottom within the survey’s historical past. A yr in the past, below President Joe Biden, that quantity was 67%.
The YouGov survey provides one other perspective: Individuals are disillusioned with their fellow residents. When requested to explain the best way most Individuals are at present utilizing 22 adjectives, 50% selected “egocentric”—up from 42% in June 2024.
Different widespread descriptions included “spoiled” (39%), “illiberal” (37%), “undisciplined” (37%), “gullible” (36%), and “reactionary” (34%). In 2024, solely 26% used the phrase “reactionary.”
Few Individuals really feel patriotic, too. Whereas 71% of Individuals take into account themselves at the very least considerably patriotic, a divide exists between older and youthful adults, in keeping with YouGov. Whereas 88% of these aged 65 and older really feel at the very least considerably patriotic, solely 55% of individuals ages 18 to 29 do.
So why are younger individuals—and lots of independents—so disengaged? It might be partly resulting from a way of stagnation. Individuals don’t simply really feel much less proud—additionally they don’t really feel hopeful concerning the nation’s future. One other new YouGov/The Economist ballot discovered that 58% of Individuals suppose the nation is on the improper monitor. Solely 35% consider it’s not off course.
There’s additionally rising skepticism concerning the American dream. Simply 55% of Individuals consider it exists, down from 60% a yr in the past, in keeping with YouGov. And this yr, solely 36% really feel it’s attainable for them personally.
Perception within the American dream additionally varies by age and financial standing. Householders (44%) are more likely than renters (28%) to say it’s inside attain, and adults ages 45 and older (44%) are way more optimistic than these below age 45 (27%), YouGov finds.
All of this factors to a broader, deeper sense of disillusionment. The patriotism hole between events has grown wider below Trump. However the decline in nationwide delight is bigger than anybody president’s affect—and it’s more and more rooted in generational shifts.
YouGov’s key discovering? Almost half of Individuals (43%) consider the nation is changing into much less patriotic. If these traits proceed, that quantity may solely rise.
Any updates?
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As warmth domes, hurricanes, and wildfires loom, the Trump administration is shifting to slash funding for the Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and section out the Federal Emergency Administration Company. Each companies are broadly trusted by the general public. In accordance with new polling from Knowledge for Progress, NOAA is considered favorably by 61% of probably voters, FEMA by 59%, and state emergency companies by 58%. Regardless of their reputation and essential position in catastrophe response, these companies now face main cuts, elevating alarms amongst specialists as excessive climate intensifies nationwide.
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Trump’s “One Huge Lovely Invoice” is projected so as to add $3.3 trillion to the deficit over the following decade, in keeping with the nonpartisan Congressional Funds Workplace. And Individuals appear to get it. New YouGov polling finds that fifty% of Individuals are conscious Trump’s laws will improve the deficit, although 28% incorrectly say it is not going to have an effect on the deficit or will lower it. On condition that they may quickly really feel the impression of their wallets, it’s no shock that 53% of Individuals oppose the laws, in keeping with YouGov. Simply 32% are in favor of it.
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A brand new NPR/PBS Information/Marist ballot finds that the overwhelming majority of Individuals (76%) consider political divisions within the U.S. pose a critical risk to democracy. The priority cuts throughout get together strains: 89% of Democrats, 80% of independents, and 57% of Republicans say the risk is actual. The general quantity is definitely a giant drop from August 2023, when 87% mentioned political divisions threatened democracy. What’s modified? Largely Republicans. Their sense of alarm has cratered, going from 88% below Biden to simply 57% now that Trump is again within the White Home.
Vibe verify
As of Thursday at 1 PM ET, 44.9% of the general public permitted of Trump, whereas 51.4% disapproved—a web approval ranking of -6.6 factors, after rounding—in keeping with election analyst Nate Silver’s polling common.
About two weeks earlier, Trump’s approval stood barely greater, at 45.8%, with 51.8% disapproving.
