SouthernWorldwide.com – As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, a recent survey reveals a surprisingly low percentage of American adults believe their nation stands above all others globally.
The poll, conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, found that only 25% of U.S. adults feel America is superior to every other nation. A larger segment, 44%, expressed the view that the U.S. is simply one of several great nations.
More strikingly, a significant 30% of respondents believe that there are other countries that are actually better than the United States.
This sentiment extends to the foundational concept of the “American Dream.” Only 34% of those surveyed still believe that hard work guarantees upward mobility and success in life. This ideal, once a cornerstone of American identity, is increasingly seen as a relic of the past.
Indeed, 51% of respondents feel that the American Dream, while it may have once been true, no longer holds relevance today. Adding to this disillusionment, 15% of adults surveyed believe the idea of the American Dream was never actually true.
The survey also highlighted significant political divisions in these views. On the Republican side of the aisle, 57% of individuals still believe the American Dream remains intact. This stands in stark contrast to only 17% of Democrats who share this belief.
The poll also delved into public opinion regarding former President Donald Trump. His approval rating was found to be significantly low, with only 33% of respondents approving of his performance. Conversely, a substantial 67% disapproved.
Breaking down the approval numbers, 17% strongly approved and 16% somewhat approved. On the disapproval side, 49% strongly disapproved, while 17% somewhat disapproved.
A particularly strong point of contention was the economy. A vast 70% of those surveyed disapproved of Trump’s handling of economic matters, with only 30% approving.
The survey was conducted over a four-day period, from April 16 to April 20, 2026. The participants were adults aged 18 and older, representing all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
A total of 2,596 individuals completed the survey. The majority, 2,461, responded online, while 135 participants completed the survey over the phone, according to the poll data.
The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research noted the overall margin of sampling error for the poll. This margin is calculated at +/-2.6 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level, which includes the design effect of the survey methodology.
For specific political affiliations, the margin of sampling error was slightly different. For Republicans, including those who lean Republican, the margin was +/-4.3 percentage points. For Democrats, including those who lean Democratic, the margin was +/-3.8 percentage points, as detailed in the survey results.
