Americans Love Their Country Yet See It as Deeply Divided

As the United States stands on the precipice of its 250th anniversary, a stark reality emerges: American voters remain deeply attached to their country even while a majority describe it in negative terms. Many citizens now believe the nation is fractured by conflicting values rather than unified by shared ones. This grim assessment comes from the latest Fox News national survey released Monday.

When asked to name a single word describing America today, two-thirds of voters selected a negative descriptor like "failing," "divided," "struggling," or "corrupt." Democrats are nearly twice as likely as Republicans to offer such bleak judgments. Conversely, only about one-quarter of the electorate suggests a positive term such as "freedom," "great," or "strong," with Republicans using these words at more than four times the rate of their Democratic counterparts.

A significant divide also exists regarding national cohesion. By a sixteen-point margin, more voters believe Americans are separated by different values than bound by shared ones. Sixty-two percent of Democrats and sixty-five percent of independents hold this view, whereas Republican opinions are almost evenly split between shared and different values.

Despite this fragmentation, broad agreement persists on fundamental American principles. More than eighty-five percent of voters say it is crucial to emphasize national unity and shared values, while eighty-three percent prioritize highlighting U.S. democratic principles. Three-quarters of Americans also prioritize showcasing the country's multiculturalism and diversity, though a twenty-one-point partisan gap separates Democrats at eighty-eight percent from Republicans at sixty-seven percent on this specific issue.

National attachment has visibly eroded compared to two decades ago. Ninety-three percent of voters previously stated they would rather live in the United States than any other nation. Today, that number has dropped to eighty-one percent, while nineteen percent say they would prefer to live elsewhere. This share has more than tripled since 2004 and 2005.

The desire to leave is especially pronounced among voters under age thirty and Democrats, with about thirty percent of each group preferring to live outside the U.S. In sharp contrast, ninety-six percent of Republicans and eighty-six percent of voters ages forty-five and over would stay. Enthusiasm for the upcoming bicentennial anniversary clearly reflects this partisan divide, with seventy-four percent of Republicans excited compared to only thirty-five percent of Democrats.

"These findings suggest a national mood best described as 'resilient discontent,'" says Republican pollster Daron Shaw, who conducts Fox News surveys alongside Democratic counterpart Chris Anderson. "The growing share who would rather live elsewhere combined with stark partisan differences in enthusiasm for the country's anniversary, suggests commitment to the nation is becoming less automatic and more conditional."

This urgent survey, conducted May 15-18, 2026, under the direction of Beacon Research and Shaw & Company Research, interviewed a sample of 1,002 registered voters. Results based on the full sample carry a margin of sampling error of plus or minus three percentage points, underscoring the volatility of current public sentiment as regulations and directives continue to shape the political landscape.

Developing precise weight targets now relies on three critical data streams: the latest American Community Survey, exclusive Fox News Voter Analysis, and comprehensive voter file data. Fox News' Victoria Balara played a key role in compiling this report, ensuring that every detail reflects the current political landscape.

As officials finalize these numbers, the urgency is clear. These targets directly influence how government directives shape public policy, affecting everything from resource allocation to community outreach efforts. With new regulations rolling out, the public must understand exactly how these data points drive decision-making at the federal and state levels.

Every statistic matters in this fast-moving environment. Balara's work underscores the importance of accurate, timely information as leaders craft strategies that impact millions of voters. The clock is ticking, and the data we hold today will determine the direction of tomorrow's legislation.