A new poll has revealed a striking disconnect between what many assume defines American identity and what most citizens actually believe. Just 54% of Americans say being born in the U.S. is important to being "truly American," while 45% reject the idea altogether. The finding takes on fresh urgency following the Supreme Court's decision on birthright citizenship and President Donald Trump's push to restrict the practice for children of temporary visitors and those in the country illegally.
The survey, conducted by Hart Research Associates and Public Opinion Strategies for the nonprofit More Perfect, tested eight different traits and asked Americans which ones matter for being truly American. Birth location ranked dead last. Seven other characteristics all outpaced it in importance, a ordering that undercuts longstanding assumptions about national identity rooted in birthplace.
Americans overwhelmingly agree on a different vision of what makes someone truly American. Believing in liberty and equality tops the list, with vast majorities calling it very important. Voting in elections ranks nearly as high. Being involved in your local community, speaking English, sharing American customs and traditions, believing in God, and actively engaging in politics through campaign work or donations all ranked ahead of birthplace.
The partisan breakdown on birthright citizenship shows stark divisions. Three in four Republicans say being U.S.-born is important, while nearly two-thirds of Democrats reject the notion. Independents split almost evenly, with 52% saying birthplace is not central to American identity.
Trump's most fervent backers take the hardest line. Eighty-three percent of Republicans aligned with the Make America Great Again movement say being born in the U.S. is essential. That drops to 78% among Trump voters more broadly, and falls further to 64% among Republicans who don't identify with the MAGA wing.
Age and education paint different pictures. Americans 65 and older overwhelmingly view birthplace as important, at 73%, but young adults tell a different story. Sixty percent of those between 18 and 34 say it's not important at all. College-educated and postgraduate Americans mostly reject birthplace as central, while those with high school diplomas or some college tend to view it as key.
Other identity markers expose the country's deepening polarization on culture and values. The widest partisan gap involves religion. Eighty-three percent of Republicans say believing in God is important to being American, compared to just 35% of Democrats, a 48-point chasm. Language creates nearly as much division, with 93% of Republicans insisting that speaking English is essential, while 53% of Democrats agree. Shared American customs and traditions also split the country, with Republicans at 94% support and Democrats at 65%.
Where the nation finds common ground is narrower. Democrats, Republicans, and independents all broadly agree that voting matters and that liberty and equality define America. Majorities across party lines also say local community involvement is important. And most Americans, regardless of political affiliation, view active political engagement like volunteering or donating as part of being truly American.
The poll surveyed 3,000 adults nationwide between May 29 and June 7 using telephone interviews and text-based online surveys. The margin of error stands at plus or minus 1.8 percentage points.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "The data flips the script on birthright citizenship debates - most Americans don't actually believe where you're born defines you as American, but Republicans do, and that's the real fault line we're watching play out."
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