July 4th News: American Pride, Patriotism At Its Lowest Reveals New Poll

A new poll from Gallup Inc. shows that pride in the United States among Americans has fallen to its lowest point since 2001 when the polling firm first measured the extent of national pride.

The waning of national pride is due more to the disappointment among Americans at the country’s divisive and fractured political system and an expensive health and welfare system that places their lives at risk.

On the other hand, Americans are most proud of their country’s scientific achievements, its military and its culture and arts by a wide margin.

In a poll taken from June 3 to 16, Gallup asked Americans which of eight aspects of U.S. government and society make them proud. Strong majorities expressed pride in six of the eight -- scientific achievements (91%), the U.S. military (89%), American culture and arts (85%), economic (75%) and sporting (73%) achievements, and diversity in race, ethnic background, and religion (72%).

On the other hand, the American political system (32%) and the health and welfare system (37%) aren’t sources of pride for most Americans.

In total, 70% of U.S. adults overall say they’re proud to be Americans. Of this total, 45% are "extremely" proud. Gallup said this is the second straight year this reading has fallen below the majority level.

These new findings stand in stark contrast to polls taken over a decade ago. The highest readings, 69% and 70%, were between 2002 and 2004, or after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. As expected, this abomination saw a surge in patriotism.

Since the start of George W. Bush's second presidential term in 2005, however, fewer than 60% of Americans have expressed extreme pride in being American.

Self-reported pride among Democrats was again lower than Republicans’. The 22% of Democrats that showed extreme pride in the U.S. is their lowest in Gallup's 19 years of measurement. It’s also half of what it was several months before Donald Trump's 2016 election victory.

On the other hand, Republicans remain extremely proud of their country. The 76% reading is just 10 points below the high recorded in 2003.

Gallup said record-low American patriotism is the latest casualty of the extremely divisive political climate in the U.S. The fact fewer than half of U.S. adults say they’re extremely proud to be Americans reflects mostly to the plummeting pride among Democrats since Trump took office.

Politics may be affecting Democrats' overall sense of pride in their country more than Republicans', said the poll. The Democrats' low approval rating of Trump and their awareness of Trump's historically low approval rating worldwide might also be a factor in this latest decline in patriotism.

Another Gallup poll earlier this year found just 31% of Americans (including a measly 2% of Democrats) think foreign leaders have respect for Trump.

Gallup said these historically low readings on American pride are likely to continue until Trump is no longer in office.