Americans Say Courage Is Declining Nationwide

WASHINGTON, D.C. — About two-thirds of U.S. adults, 67%, say courage in American society is weaker today than it was 20 years ago. At the same time, strong majorities say it is “very important” for the country’s future that both everyday Americans and elected leaders demonstrate courage in their actions.

These views are broadly consistent across age, gender, race/ethnicity and political party subgroups. The findings are based on a nationally representative web survey of more than 3,000 U.S. adult members of the Gallup Panel, conducted May 12-22, 2026, by With Honor and Gallup.

Most Americans Say Courage Is Declining

Sixty-seven percent of U.S. adults say courage in American society is weaker now than it was 20 years ago, while 19% believe it has remained about the same and 13% say it is stronger.

Majorities across gender, age, race/ethnicity, income and political party subgroups share the view that courage is declining, though perceptions vary for some.

Older adults, in particular, are more likely than younger adults to say courage has weakened: Three-quarters of those aged 65 and older hold this view, compared with 58% of adults aged 18 to 39.

The survey also asked Americans to evaluate whether the level of courage has changed among two key groups in society — young adults and elected leaders. Overall, Americans are more likely to perceive declines than increases in courage among both groups, but especially for those in public office.

Sixty-nine percent of Americans say leaders in the U.S. government show much less (46%) or somewhat less (23%) courage than their counterparts two decades ago, and only 12% say they show more. Meanwhile, nearly half of U.S. adults, 47%, say young adults today show somewhat or much less courage compared with young adults 20 years ago when they were the same age, while 26% believe young adults today demonstrate more courage.

Democrats are more likely than Republicans to say elected leaders demonstrate less courage than in the past (79% vs. 59%, respectively), while Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say young adults today show less courage than their counterparts 20 years ago (63% vs. 37%).

Americans See Courage as Essential, Especially Among Elected Leaders

Seven in 10 U.S. adults (70%) say it is “very important” for the future of the country that everyday Americans demonstrate courage in their actions. An even larger majority of U.S. adults (79%) say courageous behavior among elected leaders is very important. These views are broadly consistent across demographic groups.

In addition to the roughly eight in 10 Americans who say courage among leaders is very important for the nation’s future, 70% say it is also very important that leaders work across party lines, even when doing so could harm their political career. An even larger majority, 87%, view it as a “major problem” when elected officials fail to stand up for what they believe is right.

As with other measures, these views are broadly shared across political parties. However, these views are more strongly held by older adults, especially the importance of working across party lines: 86% of adults aged 65 and older say it is very important, compared with 72% of those aged 40 to 64 and 58% of those aged 18 to 39.

At the same time, most Americans believe there are tangible costs to courageous leadership. Three-quarters of U.S. adults, 76%, say leaders typically lose support, influence or votes when they take a stand they believe is right but that is unpopular with their own political party, while just one in 10 believe such actions generally lead to gains in support. These views are consistent across political parties.

The Costs of Courage Are Personal

Forty-four percent of U.S. adults say they are somewhat or very concerned about facing negative consequences if they publicly disagree with people on their own side — such as their political party, religious community, profession or friends — consistent with the 46% who say this action requires “a lot” or an “extraordinary” amount of courage. Thirty-five percent report they are not too concerned, while 20% are not concerned at all.

Those who report feeling somewhat or very concerned about facing consequences for expressing dissenting views mostly fear being criticized or insulted (69%), being targeted online or on social media (58%), being excluded or pushed out of a group or community (58%), or losing an important personal relationship (50%).

When asked which potential consequences would most influence their decision whether to publicly disagree with people on their own side, Americans most often select losing an important personal relationship (23%), being physically harmed or threatened (21%), or losing their job or source of income (17%).

Although some Americans express concerns that might deter them from acting with courage personally, across all demographic and political subgroups, most widely recognize and are influenced by courage in others. Seven in 10 say they can think of at least one person — someone they know or a public figure — whose courage has inspired them.

Implications

Americans widely view courage as essential to the nation’s future, yet most believe it has declined over the past two decades. They expect leaders to act with principle and work across party lines, even at personal or political costs.

At the same time, courage is seen as risky, with many believing leaders are penalized for taking unpopular stands. These dynamics suggest a potential challenge for U.S. leadership and democracy: strong public demand for courageous action alongside widely perceived deterrents.

These dynamics extend beyond political leaders. Most Americans also say it is very important for everyday people to demonstrate courage, yet many report concerns about speaking out on issues their social circles, workplaces or political groups may disagree with due to potential social, professional or personal repercussions. This hesitancy may lead individuals to self-censor, avoid disagreement or withdraw from public discourse, potentially narrowing the range of viewpoints expressed and limiting the open exchange of ideas that underpins civic engagement.

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