A new Marist poll finds major divides in patriotism ahead of America’s 250th birthday, with only 45% of Democrats saying they are “very proud” or “proud” to be U.S. citizens. The results come as Democrats and prominent public voices remain sharply split over w
A week before America’s 250th birthday, a new snapshot of national pride is exposing a hard fault line inside the Democratic Party.
In a Marist poll released on Wednesday, only 45% of Democrats said they are “very proud” or “proud” to be U.S. citizens. Republicans were more than twice as likely to say the same, with Marist finding 93% of right-wing respondents are proud Americans.
Independents sit in between: 61% said they are proud patriots.
The timing is difficult to ignore. America celebrates its 250th birthday in just days — yet the poll’s numbers point to a country that’s not simply celebrating or not celebrating, but disagreeing about what “proud” even means right now.
Marist isn’t alone in showing the same break. A 2025 Gallup poll put the gap at 92–36 on pride. with Democrats dropping from 62% proud citizens the year before when Joe Biden was in the White House. Gallup also found Republicans at 85% pride in 2024. YouGov released similar results this year, with 96% of Republicans proud citizens compared to 58% of Democrats.
Within the White House, the celebration theme has moved fast. President Donald Trump spearheaded the UFC “Freedom 250” fights at the White House last month. This weekend. he pivoted again — hosting a large rally in Washington. D.C. after a cluster of music artists ditched a concert series tied to the celebration.
Others are signaling something much less celebratory.
On cable news. MS NOW’s Ali Velshi said he feels a “deep unease” about celebrating the nation’s founding this year because of its “unresolved racial politics.” Princeton legal scholar Eddie Glaude said last weekend he has “great trepidation” about marking the 250th birthday. arguing the country is being “destroyed” by Trump and White racism. He asked, “I’ve been struggling with, what are we actually celebrating?”.
Glaude tied his concern to recent politics, including his reaction to the Supreme Court ruling on Monday. He said the decision gave the president “outsized executive power.”
Entertainment figures have added their own sharp edges. Hollywood star-turned-American expat Richard Gere said he is “ashamed” of America and compared the USA to Nazi Germany for electing Trump. Robert De Niro said. “In the current climate. declaring love for our country is like an abused spouse professing love for their abuser.”.
The polling itself adds concrete shape to the argument. Marist conducted the survey between June 8 and 11, in partnership with NPR and PBS News. It surveyed 1,340 Americans 18 and older by phone.
America 250 Marist poll Democrats pride Republicans pride patriotism NPR and PBS News partnership Gallup 2025 YouGov pride