CBS News poll on why Americans fly the flag

Millions of Americans question for July 4

Millions of Americans question for July 4 weekend 01:42

As July 4 nears, here's thing a batch of Americans hold on: Many volition alert the flag, they volition bash truthful retired of patriotism, and seeing the emblem connotes the aforesaid feeling. 

Images of the flag person ever abounded successful politics, of course, but astir Americans don't show it themselves to marque a governmental connection — though they deliberation plentifulness of others do.

And portion we often spot an representation of the emblem emblazoned connected everything from caps to clothing, for most, it's not conscionable a manner statement.

But comparatively much consciousness they've seen the emblem utilized successful these contexts, adjacent if they would not bash truthful themselves.

What does the emblem communicate?

Most Americans think, successful turn, presume a idiosyncratic they spot displaying the emblem is patriotic.

Most besides spot it arsenic idiosyncratic supporting the military.

To most, seeing idiosyncratic flying the emblem does not pass a person's ideological stance that they tin discern.

But for those who bash consciousness they person an impression, it's much apt they deliberation idiosyncratic flying the emblem is conservative, much truthful than liberal, and Democrats and Republicans deliberation that astatine astir the aforesaid rate.

Maybe they're onto thing — due to the fact that Americans' reasons and frequence for displaying the emblem do, successful fact, disagree a spot according to their partisanship. 

Republicans are comparatively much apt to accidental they've flown a emblem themselves to show patriotism, and astatine times to marque a governmental statement, each much often than Democrats accidental they have.

The emblem and protest

Over the decades, polling has asked whether it should beryllium ineligible to destruct oregon burn the emblem arsenic a signifier of protest. Most Americans deliberation that should beryllium against the law. Most besides thought truthful 35 years ago, too. (There are partisan differences connected this, with Republicans particularly apt to accidental so.)

And a ample bulk of Americans accidental the U.S. emblem doesn't person to beryllium displayed solo to signify patriotism — three-quarters deliberation 1 tin alert the emblem of one's state of household heritage, on with the American emblem and inactive beryllium patriotic.

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This CBS News/YouGov survey was conducted with a nationally typical illustration of 2,404 U.S. adults interviewed betwixt June 18-23, 2025. The illustration was weighted to beryllium typical of adults nationwide according to gender, age, race, and education, based connected the U.S. Census American Community Survey and Current Population Survey, arsenic good arsenic 2024 statesmanlike vote. The borderline of mistake is ±2.6points.

• Opinion Poll
• July 4th