Overview

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, Americans are politically divided and often pessimistic about the country’s direction. Yet many still deeply revere shared values of freedom and opportunity that define what it means to be American. Admiration for these values cut across other divisions. Effective messaging to oppose the Trump Administration’s agenda in this moment must tap into these shared values while acknowledging America’s path to 250 has been far from perfect. The overarching goal should be to celebrate the country’s rights, freedoms, and progress without glossing over where we’ve fallen short.

The bottom line: Americans of all walks of life respond to a message that centers freedom, opportunity, and diversity—a story of what America is still striving to become. 

Background

For years, political parties have attempted to monopolize patriotism and cast their opponent as out of touch with American values, portraying the party as only willing to criticize our country rather than believing in it. The sentiment from Navigator focus groups showed that everyday people are feeling this division, that people are not only feeling the loss of their rights but also the core values of “American-ness” and sense of belonging. 

“Being American, it’s almost negative sometimes because if you don’t agree with this current administration, then you’re not American. And I don’t agree with this current administration right now. So I feel like I’m not 100% American anymore.” – TX man, Hispanic strong Democrat 

These attacks have created a false choice: that you cannot truly love America if you criticize it. This data paints a different story.

As we approach America’s 250th, effective messaging needs to reject that premise while offering a positive vision of the country’s future. The most persuasive message doesn’t argue over who loves America more, but reminds people that patriotism means defending our freedoms, expanding opportunity, and improving the lives of Americans struggling with the cost of living. 

What The Data Is Showing

Americans may often disagree on a number of issues, but 96% rank freedom as an important American value, and 84% feel that way about diversity. Navigator asked Americans to rank a series of messages based on how convincing each is as an approach to America’s 250th. The most persuasive message centers themes of freedom and celebrates diversity as one of our country’s greatest strengths. 

Eight-in-10 Americans were moved by the following messages: 

• People around the world have been inspired by our fight for freedom and the idea that ordinary people, not kings or aristocrats, could govern themselves. (83% convincing, including 46% very convincing – 17% not convincing) 

• We must honor and defend the Constitution and the founding principles that made America the freest nation in the world. (83% convincing, including 47% very convincing – 17% not convincing) 

• America’s diversity is one of our greatest strengths as a nation… We all want to move forward, towards a better future for our children and grandchildren. (83% convincing, including 46% very convincing – 17% not convincing)

In their own words, Americans consistently point to freedom and diversity as the heart of what it means to be an American. 

“The shared values would be the freedom to express, whether it’s religion, your speech, anything of that sort….And also I would say the diversity. It’s a country that is based on accepting people.” – TX woman, Hispanic strong Republican

“Being in America, everybody has a right to do what they want and say what they want as long as it’s not infringing upon anybody else. It would be boring if we were all the same, but one thing we need to do and we must do is respect each other’s opinion.” – PA man, Black, veteran, strong Democrat

It’s less effective to simply highlight America’s setbacks while failing to acknowledge progress or to over index on “American greatness” without substance to support that claim.

• America has faced real challenges in recent years with political division, and setbacks on issues like abortion, immigration, and economic equality. But there’s still much to celebrate as we approach the 250th anniversary, and the fight for progress continues. (76% convincing, only 33% very convincing – 24% not convincing) 
• We must commit to renewing our national pride and participating in a grand national celebration that honors 250 years of perseverance and patriotism. This date is not just a historical milestone, but the dawn of a New Era of American Greatness that puts Americans and America first. (71% convincing, only 33% very convincing – 29% not convincing) 
• We’ve always been and still are a nation of prayer. At America’s 250th anniversary, we must rededicate the United States of America as one nation under God. (69% convincing, only 36% very convincing – 31% non convincing)

When Democrats are under baseless attacks on patriotism, the instinct is often to play defense, but this is the wrong approach. The strongest rebuttals don’t solely dispute the frame – they reclaim it.

• The most persuasive message positions leaders as celebrating American values like freedom and rights (59% agree with more), especially the right to protest and speak out when government makes life harder and more expensive for everyday Americans (58% agree with more). 
• Less persuasive are messages that focus the rebuttal solely on Trump and various 250 celebration plans like the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fight (54% agree with more). 

As Trump’s Freedom250 celebrations dominate the news cycle, the instinct may be to attack the spectacle itself, but this is misguided and counterproductive. For many, a UFC fight and Grand Prix race through the nation’s capital are fun and entertaining—attacking a crowd-pleasing form of entertainment leaves the messenger sounding lame and un-fun.

The stronger messaging is to contrast these events and Trump-centered celebrations with the cost of living crisis Americans are struggling with every day while Trump and Republicans in Congress are focused on the wrong priorities. The message isn’t “don’t celebrate America” and it certainly isn’t “don’t have fun,” but instead should be “whose America are we celebrating, and who’s getting stuck with the tab”? 

Note the framing shift: it’s not an attack on patriotism or culture, but it’s a question about having the right priorities. While families are worried about the cost of groceries, gas, or healthcare, Trump and Republicans in Congress are spending time and money on expensive, over-the-top spectacles while doing nothing to lower the cost of living. Americans want their leaders to celebrate the country and help them afford to live in it.

People from different walks of life deeply identify with being American and are proud of it. Messaging should lean in—celebrating freedom and making life better and easier for everyday families is the most American thing you can do.