Political independents are posting their weakest American pride numbers in a 25-year Gallup trend, and the split with Republicans is now huge.
Quick Take
- Gallup says 28% of independents are **extremely proud** to be American, the lowest level on record.
- Republicans stand at 70% on that same measure, while Democrats are at 14%.
- Independent pride has fallen for years, dropping below 80% in 2005, below 70% in 2019, and below 60% in 2026.
- Another Gallup measure shows 53% of independents are extremely or very proud, also a new low.
The Numbers Behind the Drop
Gallupโs latest poll shows 33% of U.S. adults are extremely proud to be American, the lowest result in its trend since 2001. The partisan split is sharper than ever. Republicans remain far more likely to express pride, at 70% extremely proud, while independents are at 28% and Democrats at 14%. That gap is not a small polling quirk. It points to a deeper split in how Americans now see the country.
The decline among independents did not happen overnight. Gallup says their pride has been sliding since the early 2000s, with clear drops over time. The same report says independent pride was already below 80% in 2005, below 70% in 2019, and below 60% this year. In the broader measure of being extremely or very proud, independents fell to 53%, down seven points from the prior low in 2025.
Why This Matters Politically
Political independents now make up a record 45% of U.S. adults, according to Gallup. That means a group once seen as the middle ground now carries major political weight. When such a large bloc shows weaker national pride, it can shape elections, media framing, and public debate. It also gives both parties a fresh opening to argue over what patriotism means and who is most entitled to define it.
Gallupโs reporting also shows this is part of a wider national pattern, not just a one-year dip. The firm says national unity has eroded over the past 25 years, while pride has stayed much steadier among Republicans than among Democrats and independents. Gallup also notes that younger adults are less proud than older adults, which may blur the line between age effects and party identity.
What to Make of the Poll
There is one caution worth keeping in mind. A different poll from National Public Radio and PBS found 33% of independents were extremely proud, which is higher than Gallupโs 28%. That does not erase Gallupโs trend, but it does show exact numbers can shift by survey method and wording. The core picture still holds: independents are far less likely than Republicans to say they are deeply proud of the country.
๐๐๐๐๐๐: ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐-๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐% ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐
Just months before the nation's 250th birthday, ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฉ reports that only ๐๐% of Americans now say they're ๐ฆ๐น๐ต๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ญ๐บ ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฅ toโฆ pic.twitter.com/8WhtEiUvP2
— M.A. Rothman (@MichaelARothman) July 9, 2026
For conservatives, the larger concern is what this says about the modern political center. A bloc that claims independence from both parties is not automatically more grounded or more patriotic. These numbers suggest many independents are drifting with the same cultural and generational currents that have weakened trust, pride, and civic unity across the country. In plain terms, the old idea that independents are the calm middle is looking weaker every year.
Sources:
usnews.com, ap.org, san.com, news.gallup.com
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