Independents’ Pride Tanks — Why Now?

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Political independents are setting a new low for American pride, and the numbers show a deeper fracture inside the country’s civic life.

Quick Take

Gallup found that just 28% of independents said they are extremely proud to be American in 2026.
Republicans stood at 70% on the same measure, while Democrats were at 14%.
Gallup said independents’ overall pride has fallen to 51%, a record low for that group.
Independents also reached a record 45% share of U.S. adults in 2025.

What the New Gallup Numbers Show

Gallup’s latest patriotism survey shows a sharp split between party groups, with independents far below Republicans in reported pride. The poll found 28% of independents said they are extremely proud to be American, compared with 70% of Republicans and 14% of Democrats. Gallup also said national pride has fallen to the lowest point in its 25-year trend, which makes the independent drop part of a much larger national slide.

The same pattern appeared in Gallup’s 2025 report, which said independents’ overall pride had already slipped to 53%, down seven points from the year before. Gallup said that decline had been building for years, with independents falling below 80% in 2005, below 70% in 2019, and below 60% in 2025. That long trend matters because it shows this is not a one-year shock, but a steady weakening of attachment among a growing political bloc.

Why This Matters Politically

Independents are no longer a small slice of the electorate. Gallup said 45% of U.S. adults identified as independents in 2025, a record high. That means the group with the weakest pride now represents nearly half the country. For conservatives, that raises a serious question about whether distrust of national institutions, elite messaging, and years of anti-American rhetoric have helped drain civic pride from voters who do not fit neatly into either party.

The partisan gap also widened in a way that is hard to ignore. Gallup reported that Republicans remained the most likely group to express extreme pride, while independents and Democrats both hit new lows. The report also said the split between Republicans and Democrats was 56 points, one of the widest on record. In plain terms, patriotism now tracks closely with party identity, and independents are caught in the middle of that divide.

What Could Be Driving the Decline

Gallup’s own analysis points to both political and generational change. The firm said younger Americans are less proud than older adults, and that Democrats in every birth cohort have seen at least a 10-point drop over the past decade. That does not prove why independents are lower, but it does suggest the decline is tied to culture as much as politics. It also means the problem may deepen if younger Americans keep moving away from traditional American pride.

𝐆𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐔𝐏: 𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐇𝐈𝐓𝐒 𝐐𝐔𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑-𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐘 𝐋𝐎𝐖 𝐎𝐅 𝟑𝟑% 𝐀𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝟐𝟓𝟎𝐓𝐇

Just months before the nation's 250th birthday, 𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐩 reports that only 𝟑𝟑% of Americans now say they're 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘥 to… pic.twitter.com/8WhtEiUvP2

— M.A. Rothman (@MichaelARothman) July 9, 2026

There is also a cautionary note. Another poll reported different numbers, showing 33% of independents saying they are extremely proud. That does not erase Gallup’s finding, but it does show that exact levels can shift by survey design and wording. Even so, the direction is the same across the major polling cited here: pride is falling, and independents are part of that collapse.