As US Turns 250, 77% Say Founding Fathers Would Be Disappointed With Nation’s Direction: Gallup Poll

25/06/2026

WASHINGTON, Jun 25: A large majority of Americans believe the nation’s founders would be disappointed with the current direction of the United States as the country approaches its 250th anniversary, according to a new Gallup survey released Wednesday.

The poll found that 77% of respondents believe the signers of the United States Declaration of Independence would be unhappy with how the country has developed, while only 19% said they believe the founders would approve of the nation’s current state.

Gallup noted that public pessimism has increased significantly over the past two decades. The share of Americans who believe the founders would be disappointed has risen from 42% in 2001 and 71% in 2013 to the current 77%.

The sentiment cuts across political divisions, with majorities of Republicans, Democrats and independents expressing concerns about the country’s direction. While Republicans were somewhat less negative than Democrats, Gallup said no major political group had more than one-quarter of respondents believing the founders would be satisfied with today's America.

The findings come as the US prepares to mark the 250th anniversary of independence, prompting renewed debate over the country’s political system, social divisions and democratic future.

A separate survey by the Marquette Law School found that 66% of Americans said they were at least somewhat proud of the country. However, only slightly more than half expressed optimism about the future of American democracy.

Meanwhile, a Fox News poll showed that Americans were more likely to describe themselves as patriotic than to say they were proud of the current state of the United States.

The surveys highlight a growing gap between Americans’ attachment to national identity and their concerns about political divisions, governance and the future of democracy.