The results showed a dramatic split between Republicans and Democrats.
Just eight percent of Democrats selected the option describing America as “the greatest” country on Earth. Another sixteen percent said the nation is merely “among the greatest.”
That means roughly three-quarters of Democrats declined to place the United States at the very top of the international rankings.
Republicans answered the same question far differently.
More than half of Republican respondents—52 percent—said America is the greatest nation in the world. Another 28 percent placed the country among the world’s best.
Taken together, four out of five Republicans gave the United States top-tier status, compared to fewer than one in ten Democrats who chose the strongest possible endorsement.
The survey revealed even more striking numbers when respondents were asked to rank America against other nations.
Among Democrats, 23 percent described the United States as “worse than average.”
An additional 15 percent said America is “among the worst” countries in the world.
Four percent went even further, labeling the United States as “the worst” nation on the planet.
Combined, those responses indicate that 42 percent of Democrats view America as either below average or near the bottom compared to other countries.
For many observers, those figures represent a remarkable shift in political attitudes, especially as the nation approaches a historic milestone birthday.
The polling data did not stop there.
A separate Economist/YouGov survey conducted around the same period found that nearly four in ten Democrats admitted feeling ashamed of being American.
Among those respondents, 26 percent said they were “somewhat ashamed,” while another 12 percent reported being “very ashamed.”
By contrast, only 22 percent of Democrats described themselves as being “very proud” of their country.
The findings align with a broader trend identified by Gallup.
For decades, Gallup has tracked levels of national pride among Americans. Following the September 11 terrorist attacks, overwhelming majorities across the political spectrum reported being extremely or very proud to be American.
That bipartisan consensus has largely disappeared.
Gallup’s most recent data shows only 14 percent of Democrats expressing extreme pride in the United States, compared with 70 percent of Republicans.
The 56-point difference marks the largest partisan gap Gallup has recorded since it began measuring the issue.
The discussion surrounding patriotism inevitably brings many Americans back to a famous moment from the 2008 campaign.
During a campaign stop in Wisconsin, Michelle Obama said it was “for the first time in my adult lifetime” that she felt proud of her country.
The remark immediately became a major political controversy.
Republicans argued the statement reflected a broader skepticism toward America among progressive activists, while Democrats defended her comments as being taken out of context.
At the time, then-presidential candidate John McCain’s wife, Cindy McCain, responded directly.
“I am very proud of my country,” she told a crowd in Brookfield, Wisconsin.
What was once considered a politically damaging statement now appears to reflect attitudes that are increasingly common among Democratic voters, according to the latest polling.
Conservatives argue that decades of anti-American messaging have contributed to the shift.
Many point to higher education, legacy media institutions, and progressive political leaders as forces that have increasingly emphasized America’s failures while downplaying its accomplishments.
Critics contend that repeatedly portraying the country as fundamentally flawed has inevitably affected how many Americans view their nation.
Supporters of that argument note that younger voters have spent years hearing narratives centered on systemic injustice, historical wrongdoing, and institutional failures.
As a result, they say, declining patriotism should not come as a surprise.
The timing of the survey is particularly significant.
Across the country, preparations are underway for events commemorating America’s 250th birthday. Communities are planning celebrations, patriotic displays, and historical tributes recognizing the nation’s founding and its role on the world stage.
Yet the polling suggests Americans remain sharply divided over how they view their own country.
While large majorities of Republicans continue to express pride in the United States and regard it as one of the world’s greatest nations, many Democrats appear far less enthusiastic.
Whether these numbers represent a temporary political trend or a lasting cultural transformation remains to be seen.
What is clear is that, as America approaches one of the most important anniversaries in its history, the debate over patriotism and national pride is far from settled.
