Americans are sounding mixed, proud, and uneasy about the country’s 250th anniversary. Recent polling shows a lot of attachment to the U.S., but also deep doubt about its direction, its institutions, and whether the country is living up to its ideals.

What the polls say

  • In an AP-NORC poll, about 4 in 10 U.S. adults said “proud” describes how they feel about the 250th anniversary, and roughly 3 in 10 said “excited”.
  • AP-NORC also found that only about a third believe the American Dream still exists.
  • Pew reported that Americans are in a “sour mood” overall, even though many still feel hopeful about the future.
  • NBC News found that many Americans think the country’s best days are behind it , with weak confidence in government, Congress, and other institutions.

A split mood

The biggest theme is not rejection of the country, but complicated loyalty. People still feel connected to the U.S., but many are frustrated by polarization, distrust, and the sense that national ideals are harder to reach than before.

A few striking findings stand out:

  • Gallup polling showed 77% think the nation’s founders would be disappointed with the U.S. today.
  • Reuters/Ipsos found many Americans doubt the country will last another 250 years, and many think democracy is under threat.
  • Fox News polling described the mood as “resilient discontent ,” with strong attachment to the country even as negative descriptions dominate.

What people still agree on

Despite the pessimism, several polls show Americans still see value in core national ideas. Many say the country has made at least some progress toward its founding ideals, and a majority still believe Americans share more in common than their politics suggests.

That means the anniversary is landing as both a celebration and a stress test: pride in the country’s history, but anxiety about its present and future.

Bottom line

The public mood ahead of America’s 250th is best described as proud but uneasy. Americans are not giving up on the country, but many are questioning whether it is still delivering on the promises it was built on.

TL;DR: Polls show Americans feel a mix of pride and skepticism about the 250th anniversary, with pride strongest, but disappointment, distrust, and concern about the nation’s future running very close behind.