As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary next month, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll reveals a nation grappling with profound divisions, with two out of five Americans doubting the country will endure another 250 years.
The four-day survey, which concluded on Monday, highlights deep-seated concerns about the nation’s future amidst a highly polarized political landscape.
The poll’s findings emerge as Donald Trump continues to inject polarizing pageantry into the upcoming July 4th celebrations, marking 250 years since the nation’s founding fathers declared independence from Britain.
Trump has positioned himself at the center of many anniversary events, including a White House “cage match” on his birthday and a planned July 4th celebration in Washington that will double as a political rally for the Republican as his party aims to retain control of Congress in November’s midterm elections.
Trump has consistently framed his presidency as an effort to safeguard America from what he describes as destructive policies by Democrats. Conversely, Democratic leaders contend that Trump himself poses a threat to democracy, alleging he uses federal law enforcement to target political adversaries.
A significant 38% of respondents, including 40% of Democrats and 26% of Republicans, expressed skepticism that the U.S. will exist as a single country two and a half centuries from now. Only 62% believe the nation will last.
Trump has accused Democrats, specifically the prior presidential administration of Joe Biden, of unlawfully targeting his allies, including those involved in the January 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol, an event aimed at overturning his 2020 election loss. Republicans, in turn, cite multiple assassination attempts against Trump as evidence that his opponents are inclined towards violence.
The poll also found that two-thirds of Americans, encompassing 85% of Democrats and 50% of Republicans, agree that American democracy is in danger of failing.
This figure marks an increase from 57% in a similar poll last August, with the rise largely driven by growing concern among Republicans. Trump has for years falsely claimed his 2020 defeat was due to widespread voter fraud and has advocated for changes to voting laws. Furthermore, 77% of respondents believe political violence is likely to increase over the next five years.
The perception of the U.S. as a global leader is also declining. Just 30% of respondents now consider America the greatest country in the world, a drop from 38% in a November 2017 Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted during Trump’s first term. This decline was particularly pronounced among Democrats, falling from 26% to 11%, while Republican sentiment remained steady at approximately six in ten.
A majority of Americans, including three-quarters of Democrats and half of Republicans, feel that the events celebrating the country’s 250th anniversary have become overly politicized. Even traditional Independence Day celebrations reveal partisan divides: 52% of Republicans plan to wear red, white, and blue clothing, compared with 20% of Democrats, and Republicans are more likely to attend fireworks displays (46% vs. 28%).
The online poll surveyed 1,537 U.S. adults nationwide and has a margin of error of 3 percentage points.
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