Just months before the nation's 250th anniversary, a new survey shows that a majority of Americans no longer believe the American Dream is within reach for everyone. The Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream (MCAAD)-Gallup American Dream Study found that 54 percent of respondents disagreed—either strongly or somewhat—with the statement that “everyone in this country has the opportunity to achieve the American Dream.” That marks a five-point jump from 49 percent in 2024.
Only 46 percent agreed with the statement, down from 51 percent the previous year. The poll, conducted from January 7 to March 4 among 6,381 adults, carries a margin of error of plus or minus 1.48 percentage points.
The data arrives as Americans prepare to celebrate the nation's 250th birthday—a moment typically steeped in narratives of opportunity and upward mobility. Yet, recent polling suggests a more skeptical public. A separate Reuters/Ipsos survey found that more than a third of Americans doubt the United States will still exist in 250 years.
Economic pressures appear to be driving much of the pessimism. The annual inflation rate recently hit a three-year high, according to Labor Department data released last week, as energy and other goods costs surged. Analysts have tied some of that increase to the ongoing U.S. military engagement with Iran, which has disrupted global energy markets.
The MCAAD-Gallup findings align with broader public anxiety about personal finances and the national economy. Another recent poll indicated that a majority of Americans fear artificial intelligence will eliminate their jobs, compounding worries about long-term economic security.
Political leaders have seized on the data. Critics of the current administration argue that policies such as the Trump-era memorandum of understanding with Iran—which former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi blasted as a costly “gift” that hurt American families—have contributed to the erosion of economic opportunity. Others point to a broader cultural and political drift that has left many feeling left behind.
The decline in belief in the American Dream carries implications for civic pride and national unity. A related analysis questions whether the country can still muster a shared sense of national pride as its semiquincentennial approaches.
For now, the numbers are stark: a clear majority of Americans no longer see the country as a land of equal opportunity. The question—for politicians, policymakers, and the public alike—is whether that perception can be reversed before the next milestone arrives.
