“Being proud to be an American doesn’t mean being proud of everything America has done,” said Anna Colley, a 21-year-old student from Dansville, California. “We have a really complicated history that has been filled with so many discriminatory practices, but I will say that we have also had some fantastic triumphs that should not go unrecognized,” said Colley. “I can understand both when people say they are proud, and when somebody says they are not proud to be an American, based on their own personal experiences.”
She echoed a greater ethos of Gen Z voters in this partisan, polarized moment in American history. A Gallup poll from June 2025 showed that a record low of US adults identify as “extremely” (41%) or “very” (17%) proud to be an American. The same poll found that only 41% of Gen Z are extremely or very proud to be an American, highlighting that younger generations are noticeably less patriotic than older generations.
So, what do the personal stories of Gen Z voters tell us about these trends?
Polarized politics may lend itself to a new definition of patriotism. “[To me,] pride means attempting to reach across the aisle and grasp the attention of those willing to participate in the political process, but might think differently than us,” said Colley.
Kian Rosenblum, a 22-year-old from Los Angeles, California, explained that for the most part, he is “50/50” when it comes to his feelings of patriotism. He shared that the “level of human rights, liberal policies compared to other countries, as well as levels of diversity,” contribute positively to his sense of pride in America.
The difference between the nation’s core principles and the way in which they are practiced leaves Gen Z in conflict with their American identity. Positive feelings about America are often countered by an equal level of concern and desire to do better.
Annibelle Washburn, 21-year-old from Scottsdale, Arizona, shared, “I am proud to be an American, specifically given our history and how much we have grown as a collective, but I am not proud of our current administration. I feel a little bit of both.”
“I think once there is more transparency and accountability within our parties, we might be able to meet in the middle and not feel so polarized as a country,” Washburn added. She argued that if America could create a true “government for the people,” as promised in the ideals of our founding documents, her pride might be restored.
Rosenblum, like Washburn, felt similarly that there needs to be a greater sense of political cohesion in America before his levels of pride can increase.
Natalie Grant, a 21-year-old from San Diego, California, said that although she is not proud of the country America is becoming, she has always felt lucky to be born here.
“We love our country so much, which is why we are outraged with what is happening. Our outrage comes from a source of pride,” said Grant. A non-hateful America and a true democracy where all voices can be heard were among the things formative to Grant’s patriotism.
Grant’s perspective encapsulates the depth and complexity of Gen Z’s American pride. Though American pride among Gen Z is statistically declining, it may, at its core, be a redefining of patriotism that represents a commitment to the nation’s founding principles of inclusivity and accountability.
