Forget Trump. Democrats have lost faith in America itself. | Opinion

Actor Robert De Niro recently had some choice words about his country, delivered at the celebrity-filled, anti-Trump bash “Rise Up, Sing Out” held in New York City on June 14 as counterprogramming to President Donald Trump’s UFC fight on the White House lawn.

“I hate to say it, but loving our country is starting to sound like an abused spouse saying they love their abuser,” De Niro said. “I can’t love a country that’s led by a racist, misogynist, xenophobic tyrant. And let me just say it: I can’t love the country that’s led by Donald Trump and his sycophant Congress.”

Love of country should not be conditional. With America's 250th birthday around the corner, that kind of talk is alarming. And while De Niro, a Democrat, has long had it out for Trump, transferring that distaste – even hatred – for the sitting president to the country itself goes far beyond this one disgruntled Hollywood star.

Recent polls highlight just how large the partisan divide is when it comes to who's proud to be an American. Although Trump's presence in the White House has caused sharp drops in Democratic pride, the trend line over the past 25 years has been downward.

Even traditional symbols of American pride are becoming political signifiers. Have a flag waving outside your home? Plan to attend a fireworks show? You’re most likely a Republican.

That wasn’t always the case.

For Republicans, pride in country is consistent. Not so with Democrats.

A new NBC News poll shows that “Americans have a bleak outlook on the nation’s future,” which is an understatement when you dig into the numbers. From faith in the country’s institutions to pride in the country itself, our fellow citizens aren’t feeling optimistic. The poll found a record-low number of Americans who say they are extremely proud to be Americans. 

After the terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001, 82% of Americans said they were extremely or very proud of their country. Now, 33% say they are extremely proud and 23% say they are very proud (56% total). 

It’s a dramatic decline. And it’s being driven by Democrats.

The NBC News survey found that 62% of 2024 Trump voters say they are extremely proud to be Americans, compared with just 12% of Kamala Harris voters. Among Republicans, 90% are extremely or very proud. Among Democrats, that number sits at just 29%.

Age is another predictor of national pride, with only 36% of Americans ages 18-34 saying they are extremely or very proud, in contrast to 75% of those 65 and older.

Overall, Republicans' pride in country has held steady regardless of the political moment, averaging 90% since 2001, according to a 2025 Gallup survey.

Democrats also started close to 90% in 2001, but have been sliding since then (with some precipitous drops during the Trump years). As of last year, the number stood at 36%, compared with 92% of Republicans. 

Will we have a country in another 250 years? Many say no.

Given this dissatisfaction with the country, it’s not surprising that a significant swath of Americans don’t think it can survive another 250 years. 

A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 38% of citizens feel this way, with 40% of Democrats and 26% of Republicans saying they don’t think America will exist as a single country in 2276. 

As a proud American myself, this is discouraging. 

Pride is an important measure because it should transcend whatever politicians inhabit the swampland of Washington, DC. It reflects something deeper – faith in our founding documents and the principles of individual liberty that have shepherded our country thus far, and hope that they will continue to do so.

The fact that Democrats have steadily lost this pride over the past quarter century points to a deeper dissatisfaction with the more intrinsic qualities of our nation.

At the "Rise Up, Sing Out" event, De Niro concluded, "I want to love my country again."

He should have never stopped.

Ingrid Jacques is a columnist at USA TODAY. Contact her at [email protected] or on X: @Ingrid_Jacques.