The United States is approaching its 250th anniversary, and despite being divided on the country's progress, a recent survey finds American voters are proud of the nation and optimistic about its future.
According to the survey, 53% of voters say they are proud of the country today, a number that has increased from 39-45% during the Biden administration years and 51% during President Donald Trump's first term in office.
Pride in the country varies significantly by generation, with more than half of voters aged 45 and older saying they are proud, while those under 30 are the least proud at 44%.
Partisan views also play a significant role in pride and patriotism, with 8 in 10 Republicans saying they are proud of the country today, compared to 3 in 10 Democrats and 4 in 10 independents.
Views on patriotism are more positive, with majorities across all partisan groups considering themselves patriotic, including 9 in 10 Republicans and 6 in 10 Democrats.
When asked to describe what it means to be an American, voters commonly mention freedom and liberty, national pride, heritage, civic duty, and the American Dream.
Looking ahead, a 54% majority believes America's best days are ahead, up 11 points from 43% in 2023.
However, views on the nation's future are closely tied to partisanship, with Republicans more likely to believe the best days are still ahead, while Democrats are more pessimistic.
In terms of summer vacation plans, voters prefer having more money to spend on a vacation than additional time to be on one, marking a reversal from previous times the question was asked.
Despite disapproving of President Trump's job on gas prices, a 60% majority says they have not changed their summer travel plans due to prices at the pump.
The survey was conducted among a sample of 1,002 registered voters, with a margin of sampling error of ±3 percentage points, and weights were applied to ensure the demographics were representative of the registered voter population.
