As the United States prepares to mark its 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026, Americans are approaching the milestone with a mix of pride, excitement, ambivalence and unease. New Gallup polling shows that about 7 in 10 U.S. adults believe the nation has succeeded “a great deal” or “a fair amount” in living up to the ideals on which it was founded. Majorities of Democrats, independents and Republicans all share that view, although Republicans are especially likely to say the country has been successful.
Even so, enthusiasm is far from universal. Many Americans say they feel either conflicted or indifferent about America 250, especially Democrats and younger adults. About 4 in 10 Democrats and roughly 3 in 10 people under 30 say “conflicted” describes their feelings “extremely” or “very” well. Around 3 in 10 in both groups say they feel “indifferent.” Older adults are more upbeat: about 6 in 10 Americans age 60 and older say they feel proud about the anniversary.
Partisanship is also shaping the mood. Most Republicans say “proud” or “excited” captures how they feel about the 250th anniversary. Roughly 7 in 10 Republicans say pride describes their emotions, compared with about 3 in 10 independents and around 2 in 10 Democrats. About half of Republicans, 54%, say they feel excited about the anniversary.
Another Gallup survey found a darker current beneath the celebration. About 8 in 10 Americans say the signers of the Declaration of Independence would be disappointed with how the country has turned out, while only about 2 in 10 think they would be pleased. That marks a sharp shift from 1999, when the question was first asked: 55% then said the founders would be disappointed, and 44% said they would be pleased.
Recent polling also suggests Americans are more likely to mark the milestone in personal or community settings than at big-ticket events. A Gallup poll conducted with With Honor and in collaboration with America250 found that 66% of adults plan to celebrate in some way, most often by spending time with family and friends. About 32% say they expect to take part in a neighborhood or community event, 17% say they plan to attend an official America 250 program and 44% say they will follow anniversary coverage on television or social media. Adults 65 and older are much more likely than younger adults to say they plan to celebrate.
For many Americans, the semiquincentennial is unfolding amid a broader debate over what the country’s 250th birthday should look like. The official America250 commission, created by Congress in 2016, has been organizing events nationwide, while the White House has launched its own “Freedom 250” branding for July 4 celebrations in Washington. That has added to the sense that the anniversary is both a patriotic showcase and a political moment.
For Duane Mitchell, a 78-year-old Montana veteran, the anniversary is something to embrace enthusiastically. He plans to drive a 1954 Chevrolet pickup he restored in red, white and blue through local Fourth of July parades. To mark the nation’s milestone birthday, he also bought a decorative eagle for the back of the truck, along with American flags.
“I’ll be driving my pickup,” he said, referring to his role in the parades. “Usually we freeze a whole bunch of candy, and I have a couple of kids from down the block who get in the back and throw candy out. Everybody loves it.”
Mitchell, who was drafted and served in the Vietnam War, said he wants Americans to be “celebrating it to the maximum.” For him, the anniversary should also honor those who died defending the nation’s freedoms. “It was a sacrifice,” Mitchell said, referring to his service. “The most important thing about the celebration is understanding that freedom is not free, and it never will be free, so you need to celebrate that.”
Others see the anniversary in more complicated terms. Laura Davis, a 44-year-old Chicago resident who describes herself as a progressive liberal, said she has had difficulty with what she called the “American declarations of grandiosity” this year, including Trump’s White House ballroom construction and the repainting of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. She said those resources could be directed instead toward Americans in need and international aid, and she worries the Trump administration is harming the country’s standing abroad.
“It doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate the things that do make America a unique and in some ways exceptional place to be,” she said. “But I think it’s more nuanced than that, and I hope that doesn’t get lost in the celebration.”
Sydney Crispin, a 39-year-old Democrat in Maine, also described mixed feelings. She said the country’s “incredible” founding is worth honoring, but she is troubled by what she sees as a weakening ability among Americans to disagree respectfully — something she considers central to the nation’s character. She hopes communities can spend the Fourth of July celebrating what is extraordinary about the country while also taking stock of where it falls short.
Polling suggests many Americans will observe the anniversary in low-key ways. According to a recent Gallup-With Honor poll, 44% of U.S. adults plan to celebrate by spending time with friends or family. About 3 in 10 say they expect to watch America 250 coverage on television or social media. More than half of adults 65 and older say they will celebrate with friends or family, and nearly half in that age group expect to watch coverage. Adults under 30 are more likely than older Americans to say they do not plan to celebrate at all.
The same poll found that about 2 in 10 Americans intend to take part in a neighborhood or community event, while roughly 1 in 10 say they will attend an official America 250 event.
National celebrations are expected to stretch well beyond fireworks. Official plans already include July 4 events in Washington, Philadelphia, New York and other communities, along with state and local commemorations across the country. The White House has said its July 4 observance in Washington will be a “Salute to America 250 Celebration & Fireworks+,” while America250 has promoted the anniversary as a nonpartisan commemoration intended to engage Americans nationwide.
Lyle Nelson, a 67-year-old Idaho resident, said he expects to stick with his usual tradition of watching the annual Macy’s fireworks show from home. Nelson, who said he agrees with much of what Trump has done in office, suggested the president may take special satisfaction in occupying the White House during the semiquincentennial, particularly after being upset over not winning reelection in 2020.
“I wonder if he’s thankful that he gets to be president during the 250th anniversary,” Nelson said. “I think he’ll be excited for that.”