First Lady Melania Trump greets parents and children participating in Take Our Sons and Daughters to Work Day, Tuesday, May 20, 2025, on the South Lawn of the White House. (Official White House photo by Andrea Hanks)
A growing number of Americans are feeling less patriotic about their country as the United States prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
According to a Public Religion Research Institute poll released last week, “Just half of Americans are extremely or very proud of being an American (51%) or of America’s 250-year history (49%).”
Those low numbers are being fueled by Democrats, according to the survey.
“Most Republicans (83% and 82%, respectively) are extremely or very proud, compared with over four in ten independents (43% and 44%), and three in ten Democrats (31% and 28%),” the Public Religion Research Institute poll revealed.
A mere 24% said America is a good moral example for the world, while 18% said they approved of how democracy is working in the United States today.
The American Dream
There is also a sharp partisan divide about the American Dream. When respondents were asked whether they believed if you work hard, you’ll get ahead, just 49% agreed vs. 50% who disagreed. “Republicans are notably more likely to believe in the American Dream (76%) than independents (46%) and Democrats (30%),” the poll found.
PRRI President Robert P. Jones told Axios, “What you really see is one vision of the country, and one mood among Republicans, and a very, very different vision of the country and mood among both independents and Democrats.”
The survey also asked about the role of God in America.
“Just 44% of Americans agree with the idea that God has granted America a special role in human history, compared with a slim majority who disagree (52%),” according to the Public Religion Research Institute data.
In 2012, a majority of all religious groups believed in God’s providence for America. Today, that was true for only Latter-day Saints, white evangelical Protestants, Hispanic Protestants, and black Protestants.
Progressives Prefer Europe
In addition to the decline in patriotism, progressives in the United States also view several European countries more favorably than their own country, according to recent polling from the Napolitan News Service.
“The progressive base has a higher—significantly higher—opinion of France, the U.K., and Germany than they do of the United States,” said Scott Rasmussen, founder of the Napolitan Institute and president of RMG Research.
— Napolitan News Service (@NapolitanNews) June 4, 2026
Among voters who hold progressive policy positions, 81% viewed France favorably, 78% viewed the United Kingdom favorably, and 67% viewed Germany favorably, according to the Napolitan News Service.
Rasmussen noted that while progressives profess to “love the country” and “believe in America’s founding ideals,” they “are more likely to be disenchanted” when the president is a Republican like Donald Trump.
Progressives’ viewpoints on their country, therefore, shift depending on who is in office, Rasmussen said. With Trump as president, there is “an inclination for some of these progressives” to be “a little bit embarrassed, and that’s reflected in the data,” he noted.
Fewer than 6 in 10 AOC-Policy voters (57%) have a favorable view of the U.S.
8 in 10 view France (81%) and the UK (79%) favorably.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
