Staff Reports
Vice President JD Vance dropped into a TV sparring match on Fox’s The Five and did what networks rarely see from a sitting vice president: he made a clear, simple point and stuck to it. He used a fresh NBC News poll on patriotism to call out the big problem left‑leaning elites have created — turning love of country into a party line. The clip is short, sharp, and worth paying attention to.
Vance Calls Out Democrats on Patriotism
On air, Vice President Vance asked a plain question: “Why does it need to be true that if your party’s out of power, you should have less pride in your country?” He told Fox panelist Jessica Tarlov that Americans should be proud no matter who holds the White House. That’s not just rhetoric. The NBC poll shows only about 56% of adults say they are “extremely” or “very” proud to be American, but the split by party is the headline: roughly 90% of Republicans report pride, while just 29% of Democrats do. There’s also a big age gap: seniors are far more proud than young adults.
What the Poll Really Shows for Voters and Messaging
These numbers are political dynamite. When most Democrats won’t say they’re proud of the country, voters notice. The poll also found voters think Democrats are more focused on opposing one man than on building for the future — a gap that widens among swing voters. In plain terms: when a party’s identity looks like anger and opposition, swing voters and younger people tune out. Vance used that data to argue Democrats have tied patriotism to partisan power, and that’s a losing message if you want broad support.
Why Vance’s Media Strategy Matters
It’s no accident Vice President Vance is showing up on opinion shows and cutting clips that travel fast. This is how you change the narrative. He turned a media gotcha into a teaching moment: pride is not a political badge you wear only when your team wins. That line lands because most Americans still value the flag, the military, and the good in the country more than they value political theater. The left can keep telling its base that the country is a list of grievances, but that only cements the divide the poll found.
Bottom Line
Vance was right to make the poll about more than numbers. This is about identity and who gets to claim the heart of America. Republicans should lean into patriotism as a positive message — not a weapon — and Democrats should ask themselves if their brand is one of building or just opposing. If you want votes, tell people what you love about the country, not only what you hate about a rival. That’s the very basic patriotism lesson Jessica Tarlov learned on live TV, whether she wants to admit it or not.
