Americans define patriotism differently and "there's a partisan divide in that sense," pollster Justin Wallin told Newsmax on Friday.
Appearing on "Wake Up America," Wallin said Americans across the political spectrum generally love their country, but Republicans and Democrats often disagree on what patriotism means and how it should be expressed.
Wallin joined senior partner at Zogby Strategies, John Zogby, to discuss new polling ahead of the nation's 250th Independence Day celebration.
"I don't think it's a lack of patriotism," Wallin said of declining levels of national pride reflected in recent surveys. "I think it's largely grounded in two things."
The first, he said, is a growing sense of disillusionment over whether the American Dream remains attainable for many citizens.
Wallin also pointed to polling showing Republicans and Democrats define patriotism differently.
"There is a partisan divide in that sense," he said. "Republicans are far more likely to agree with the statement that patriotism is supporting your country unconditionally, whereas Democrats are far more likely than Republicans to view patriotism as acknowledging problems in your country and seeking solutions.
"So it's not a question of love. It's a question of what Americans view America as and what it should be in the future."
The discussion came after Gallup polling found American pride has declined over the past two decades, while other recent surveys have shown Republicans reporting substantially higher levels of pride in the country than Democrats.
Zogby argued the polling reflects disappointment with current conditions rather than rejection of America's founding ideals.
"We've got to parse this," he said. "First of all, there's America, which is an ideal and an aspiration. And then there's the United States of America, which is a nation-state with its own self-interests that carries out policy."
He suggested younger Americans have come of age during a series of economic and geopolitical challenges, including the 2008 financial crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, and war, contributing to their more skeptical outlook.
"I think hate is too strong a word," Zogby said. "I would say disillusionment, disappointment."
The conversation followed Newsmax's coverage of the nation's 250th birthday celebration and the awarding of the 2026 Liberty Medal to Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope.
The hosts also highlighted a Marquette Law School poll measuring Americans' views of the Founding Fathers.
Benjamin Franklin topped the survey with the highest net favorability, followed by George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Alexander Hamilton.
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