historic decline – A new NBC News poll finds a historic drop in how proud Americans feel to be American, with Democrats driving nearly all of the decline. The survey shows record-low “extremely proud” levels, stark differences between Trump and Harris voters, and lower pride amo
By the time “Rise Up, Sing Out” ended in New York City on June 14, the argument had already moved past elections.
Actor Robert De Niro. speaking at the celebrity-filled. anti-Trump bash held as counterprogramming to President Donald Trump’s UFC fight on the White House lawn. delivered a line that landed like a warning for the country’s next milestone. “I hate to say it. but loving our country is starting to sound like an abused spouse saying they love their abuser. ” De Niro said. “I can’t love a country that’s led by a racist, misogynist, xenophobic tyrant. And let me just say it: I can’t love the country that’s led by Donald Trump and his sycophant Congress.”.
The pride question behind that sentiment is now showing up in the numbers—differently depending on who you ask. and when you ask them. A new NBC News poll found Americans “have a bleak outlook on the nation’s future. ” and it’s reflected in a record-low share saying they are extremely proud to be Americans.
After the terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001, 82% of Americans said they were extremely or very proud of their country. Now, the poll shows 33% say they are extremely proud, and 23% say they are very proud—56% in total. The decline is not just steep; it tracks a deepening partisan divide, with Democrats driving nearly all of the drop.
The gap is especially stark inside the 2024 electorate. NBC News found that 62% of 2024 Trump voters say they are extremely proud to be Americans, compared with just 12% of Kamala Harris voters. Among Republicans, 90% are extremely or very proud. Among Democrats, that number sits at just 29%.
Republicans’ pride looks steadier from year to year. A 2025 Gallup survey found pride among Republicans averaged 90% since 2001. Democrats. by contrast. began close to 90% in 2001 but have been sliding since then. including “some precipitous drops during the Trump years.” As of last year. the number stood at 36% for Democrats. compared with 92% for Republicans.
Age adds another layer to the split. Only 36% of Americans ages 18-34 say they are extremely or very proud, compared with 75% of those 65 and older.
For some Americans, the decline in pride comes with fear about what the country itself can endure. A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 38% of citizens feel America will not survive another 250 years. That view breaks down into 40% of Democrats and 26% of Republicans saying they do not think America will exist as a single country in 2276.
One of the most striking features of the pride shift is how quickly cultural symbols that once seemed broadly shared have become political signals—whether it’s waving a flag outside a home or planning to attend a fireworks show. The change didn’t always look this way. but in the current moment the pattern is clear: a flag outside your home or a fireworks night is “most likely” to track as Republican.
Taken together, the polling paints a single picture that doesn’t need commentary to be felt: in a country approaching its 250th birthday, pride itself has become something many people describe in partisan terms rather than as a shared civic default.
At the “Rise Up. Sing Out” event. De Niro ended with a plea: “I want to love my country again.” The NBC News results suggest that for many Americans—especially younger adults and Democrats—that wish is no longer just personal frustration. It’s a measurable, widening divide in how the nation sees itself.
American pride poll NBC News poll Democrats vs Republicans Robert De Niro Kamala Harris voters 2024 Trump voters Gallup pride 2001 2025 Reuters Ipsos 2276 U.S. 250th anniversary