As America prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, a new poll conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) sheds light on the evolving sentiments of its citizens. The survey, which interviewed over 5,000 adults, reveals a nuanced picture of national pride, political favorability, and cultural values in 2026.
The findings highlight a decline in the percentage of Americans who express pride in their national identity, as well as shifting views on the leadership of President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV. Additionally, the poll explores attitudes towards immigration, the war in Iran, and the broader cultural and democratic values that define the nation.
Declining National Pride
One of the most striking findings is the decline in national pride among Americans. According to the PRRI poll, only 51% of respondents said they are either extremely proud or very proud of their American identity. This marks a significant shift from previous years, reflecting a growing sense of discontent or ambivalence among the populace.
The poll also reveals that just 49% of Americans are extremely proud or very proud of America’s 250-year history. This sentiment varies widely across political lines, with 82% of Republicans expressing pride in the nation’s history, compared to 44% of independents and 28% of Democrats.
Political Favorability: Trump vs. Pope Leo XIV
More than a year into his second administration, President Donald Trump’s favorability rating has declined to 34%, down from 41% before the 2026 election. The poll indicates that 62% of Americans now view him unfavorably. However, Trump maintains strong support among Republicans, with 79% holding favorable views of him.
In contrast, Pope Leo XIV is viewed more favorably than Trump by most Americans, except for Republicans and conservative white Christians. Democrats (73%) and independents (55%) are notably more likely to view Pope Leo XIV favorably than Trump, while more Republicans view Trump favorably (79%) than the new Pope (47%).
Handling of Key Issues
The poll also assesses public opinion on Trump’s handling of key issues such as the war in Iran and immigration. Two-thirds of Americans hold unfavorable views of Trump’s handling of the war in Iran (66%), with only 29% expressing favorable views. Similarly, more than one-third of Americans (37%) rate Trump’s handling of immigration favorably, compared to 58% who rate his actions unfavorably.
Perceptions of Leadership
A majority of Americans (59%) agree that President Trump is a dangerous dictator whose power should be limited before he destroys American democracy up from 52% in. This view is particularly strong among Democrats (91%) and independents (65%), while most Republicans (78%) agree that President Trump is a strong leader who should be given the power he needs to restore America’s greatness.
Cultural and Democratic Values
The poll delves into the cultural and democratic values that Americans hold dear. It finds that most Americans (64%) prefer the U.S. to be a nation made up of people belonging to a wide variety of religions, rather than one primarily made up of people who follow the Christian faith (34%). Similarly, 77% of Americans prefer the U.S. to be a nation made up of people from all over the world, rather than one primarily made up of people of Western European heritage (20%).
When it comes to civic ideals, most Americans say believing in individual freedoms (93%), the Constitution (91%), and the Declaration of Independence (88%) are important to being truly American. However, there is more disagreement on whether being Christian (43%) or having Western European heritage (23%) are necessary traits.
The findings of this poll paint a complex picture of America in 2026, highlighting both the enduring values and the evolving sentiments of its citizens. As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, these insights provide a crucial snapshot of the cultural and political landscape.
