Washington, United States. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released as the United States approaches its 250th anniversary found that two out of five Americans do not believe the country will endure another 250 years. The survey also highlighted rising concern about the future of American democracy and the risk of political violence.
Poll findings on national unity
The four-day poll, which concluded on Monday, found that 38% of respondents said they did not think the United States would exist as a single country 250 years from now, while 62% said they thought it would last.
Among those who said the country would not endure, 40% were Democrats and 26% were Republicans.
Anniversary celebrations and political tensions
The poll comes amid celebrations for July 4, which will mark 250 years since the people who became known as the founding fathers of the United States declared independence from Britain.
President Donald Trump has placed himself at the center of several anniversary events, including a White House cage match on his birthday on Sunday. On Monday, he said he would be the main attraction at a July 4 celebration in Washington that will also serve as a political rally as Republicans seek to retain control of Congress in November’s midterm elections.
Trump has described his presidency as an effort to save the country from destruction by Democrats. Democratic leaders have said Trump is a danger to democracy and have alleged that he is using federal law enforcement to target political critics.
Concerns about democracy
Two-thirds of respondents said they agreed with a statement that American democracy was in danger of failing. That included 85% of Democrats and 50% of Republicans.
The overall share of respondents who said democracy was at risk rose from 57% in a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in August last year. Reuters said the increase was driven by a larger share of Republicans expressing concern about democracy’s future.
Trump has for years said his 2020 election loss was the result of widespread voter fraud and has pushed for changes to voting laws.
Violence and political conflict
The poll found that 77% of respondents said it was likely that political violence would increase over the next five years.
Trump has accused Democrats, especially the administration of former President Joe Biden, of illegally targeting his allies, including people involved in the January 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol, which was an attempt to overturn Trump’s 2020 election defeat. Republicans have also pointed to multiple assassination attempts against Trump as evidence that his opponents are willing to use violence.
Views of America’s global standing
The poll also showed a decline in the share of Americans who see the country as a global standout.
Thirty percent of respondents said they considered America the greatest country in the world, down from 38% in a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in November 2017 during Trump’s first term. Among Democrats, that figure fell to 11% from 26%, while among Republicans it remained steady at about six in 10.