Most Americans are more pessimistic than ever about the future and think the country’s best years are behind them, new poll data shows, but Republicans are more optimistic about the future now than they were when Barack Obama was president.
The U.S. Capitol building on April 20, 2026.
Pew Research data released Friday shows most Americans (59%) think the country's best years are behind them and only 40% think its best years are ahead.
A majority of people in almost every racial, economic and political demographic said they feel America's best years are in the past with one exception—upper income respondents were split 50-50 on the question.
Black people, Hispanic people and Democrats were the most likely to report they think the country's best years are behind it, but a majority of Republicans, white and Asian people responded the same (just by a less dramatic margin).
