Poll finds 38% of Democrats say they are ashamed to be Americans

WASHINGTON, DC: A new national survey has found that 38% of Democrats say they are ashamed to be Americans, highlighting a sharp divide in how different political groups view the country just weeks before the United States marks its 250th anniversary.

The Economist/YouGov survey, conducted between June 13 and June 15, found that while 38% of Democrats described themselves as ashamed to be Americans, 60% of US adult citizens overall said they were either "very proud" or "somewhat proud" of their country.

Democrats and Americans overall report very different levels of national pride

The survey found notable differences between Democrats and the larger population when respondents were asked how proud they were to be Americans.

Among all US adult citizens, 42% said they were "very proud" to be American, while another 18% said they were "somewhat proud." Combined, that means 60% expressed some level of pride in the country.

By contrast, only 40% of Democrats said they were at least somewhat proud to be American.

Meanwhile, 38% of Democrats reported feeling ashamed of being American. Of that group, 12% said they were "very ashamed," while the remainder described themselves as somewhat ashamed.

Another 22% of Democrats said they were neither proud nor ashamed, closely mirroring the 20% of all adults who selected a neutral response.

The findings come as America prepares for a historic milestone, with celebrations planned nationwide ahead of the nation's semiquincentennial next month.

Multiple surveys found Democrats expressing more skepticism about America

The latest findings also align with results from another recent national survey.

An America 250 survey conducted by Elon University and YouGov between April 30 and May 3, 2026, similarly found Democrats expressing lower levels of national pride than the larger public.

That survey found that 68% of US adults agreed with the statement, "I am proud to be an American." Nearly half of the respondents said the statement was "very true" for them. 

Among Democrats, however, only 48% agreed.

The Elon University survey also found that 55% of Democratic adults said there was another country where they would rather live than the United States today.

Among all US adults, roughly 65% said there was no other country on Earth where they would rather live.

Taken together, both surveys point to a continuing gap between Democrats and the electorate on questions involving patriotism, national pride, and perceptions of America's place in the world.

Americans remain divided over the country's global role

The Economist/YouGov poll also asked respondents whether they believed America has been a force for good in the world.

Among all US adults, 61% answered either "yes" or "mostly yes." Specifically, 25% answered "yes," while another 36% selected "mostly yes."

Democrats were less enthusiastic in their responses. Only 10% fully agreed that America has been a force for good, while 35% said: "mostly yes."

Respondents were also asked how the United States compares to other countries around the world.

Nearly half of Democrats - 45% - said America compares poorly with other nations.

That figure included 25% who called the country "worse than average," 14% who described it as "among the worst," and 6% who said it was "the worst."

Among all US citizens, however, 54% said America was either the greatest country in the world, among the greatest, or better than the average country.