The truth behind Gen Z’s sinking American pride
Gen Z doesn’t hate America. In fact, they want to love it.
July 4th is almost here, but less than half of Gen Z is proud to be an American.
According to new Gallup data:
Of all age cohorts, Gen Z’s pride is the lowest at just 41%
Gen Z Democrats report the lowest levels of American pride (and more Gen Z Democrats say they feel little or no pride in being an American than those who are extremely or very proud to be an American)
Just 24% of Gen Z Democrats are extremely or very proud to be an American, compared to 48% of Independents and 65% of Republicans
Gen Z Americans’ complicated relationship with patriotism makes sense.
From active shooter drills to climate change, police violence and calls for racial justice, an intense immigration debate and what many view as a botched reaction to the Covid-19 pandemic, Gen Z grew up amid national – and international – chaos. For a generation in constant crisis, who can blame them?
But the real reason for young people’s sinking American pride is deeper than that.
It’s not just frustration with chaos and tumult. It’s disillusionment with U.S. politics as we know it. Hyper-polarization and a scathing political climate defined this generation’s childhood.
Last month I did a Reality Check in with young Americans. More than 50 people replied, from 25 states and Washington, D.C. I asked point blank if they felt proud to be an American. Like Gallup, I found that less than half of my respondents (42%) feel proud to be an American right now.
I explained some of this in my declaration of The Gloomcycle.
At the time, I wrote that when it comes to Gen Z: “Many are looking for new leaders to remedy years of deep party polarization. They know that division is only making everything worse.”
Here are a handful of quotes from that Reality Check that stand out:
“Our democracy is dying. But most importantly, our humanity is dying. And the people who are supposed to protect us and our rights are not doing it because they’re either scared of Trump, or have been bought by some CEO.” – 24-year-old, Minnesota
"It’s hard to think of anything that is working in the US. If anything, the judges that have been able to stop some of the deportations is a positive. As far as what’s not working, there’s too many things to point to. I think the entire US political system has gotten completely out of touch with what Americans actually want and it’s causing things to collapse.” – 25-year-old, New York
"The political turmoil and unrest are so alarming and disheartening. I do believe there are more good people in our country than bad and that good will prevail. It feels like we've hit rock bottom so… hopefully the only way we can go from here is up. But I'm not optimistic about much right now." – 24-year-old, New York
"I think we need to secure the border and I support deporting people who came here illegally. Too many of my friends have been victims of crime by people who came here illegally - which I think people forget is a crime. They also struggle financially while the government rents entire hotels for illegal immigrants in NYC. It’s ridiculous. But I don’t think the messaging is working. I think sometimes the Trump admin thinks being the villain is funny. But that should never be the goal." 25-year-old, Washington, D.C.
“There's so much violence being justified by both sides of the aisle that I expect to wake up to horrible news." – 28-year-old, Indiana
“I feel like there is a lot of negativity and that people aren’t informed properly. It really bothers me when some people aren’t accepting of others’ opinions, especially when this is a place where people can have different opinions." – 19-year-old, Pennsylvania
“I’m worried about escalating wars around the globe, including culture wars. I think the right and left have gotten too far apart. I am afraid they hate each other — and they shouldn’t." – 25-year-old, Washington, D.C.
If the 2024 election proved anything, it’s that Gen Z is pretty split politically, especially by gender. Young Americans are not naive, and empathy is a core Gen Z value. This generation knows people disagree, and they welcome a difference of opinion amongst their friends, classmates, and colleagues.
But they don't have good examples of how to disagree productively. In turn, they're not just hungry for national stability, they're craving space for civil discourse and leaders who are willing to have those hard conversations in public.
In that Reality Check, I also asked how young people are feeling about the state of things in the U.S. right now. Not a single respondent gave a full vote of confidence, and the most common reply was a 2 out of 10.
Their responses about what’s working and not working in the U.S. are nuanced and reflect the complicated reality of living in America as a young person today, where trust in both political parties is declining. Even some of the most conservative members of The Up and Up’s Gen Z community are frustrated with President Donald Trump and his administration's rhetoric. A number of people shared how intentionally divisive it feels things have become.
In my listening sessions, I ask young people about their biggest fears and hopes for the country. A frequent fear (more common than you might expect) is that we’re on the brink of a civil war. A common hope is for unity. And not in an idealistic or cheesy way, but instead, to agree to disagree. If anything, that’s a plea for help from a generation that knows nothing other than outright division.
Part of the decline in American pride among this generation stems from a growing cynicism toward our country’s two-party system, deepening party polarization, and the relentlessly divisive nature of political rhetoric in the digital age. Social media algorithms push young people into silos. And the politicization of education has encouraged schools to stay away from politics with a 10-foot pole, leaving little room for young people to have productive conversations with people whom they may disagree with.
Gen Z doesn’t hate America. In fact, they want to love it. They’re desperate for spaces that encourage dialogue, empathy, and respectful disagreement, without fear of retribution or social isolation.
This week, Elon Musk doubled down on his suggestion for a new political party to represent those in “the middle.” When he first floated the idea last month, I asked my Instagram followers what they thought. I was struck by the number of people who sided with Elon, saying this was a great, even necessary, step forward.
Beyond the headlines and hard data showing young Americans’ qualms with our current national landscape, there’s a growing appetite for the path forward. As we celebrate America’s birthday and reflect on where we are, I’m hopeful that this generation’s waning patriotism is a call to action rooted in a belief that we can and will do better. The next generation isn’t just complaining about our current status quo. They’re seeking startup-style solutions for America’s next chapter.
Noteworthy reads
What Gen Z really wants from alcohol brands, Amy Francombe for Vogue Business
Young lawmakers fear for their safety, Ross Godwin, Anna Liss-Roy for The Washington Post
Gen Z won't stop oversharing at work, and it's changing our workplace culture, Emily Stewart for Business Insider
Gen Z, It Turns Out, Is Great at Saving for Retirement, Lisa Rabasca Roepe for The New York Times
Why ‘Success Is Quieter’ for Younger Americans, Clare Ansberry for The Wall Street Journal