US News
Survey examines American attitudes on unity and security 25 years after 9/11
Most Americans see lasting national change alongside declining solidarity, according to CBS News.
The short version
- A survey indicates that most Americans consider the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks a transformative event that permanently changed the country.[CBS News]
- A majority of respondents perceive less national unity today than in 2001, though roughly half think the public would unite again following a foreign attack.[CBS News]
- Views on current domestic terror preparedness are split along partisan lines, with most Republicans expressing confidence while most Democrats and independents do not.[CBS News]
Key facts
- Most Americans view the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks as a defining moment that fundamentally altered the nation.[CBS News]
- A majority of the public feels there is less unity in the country today than at the time of the attacks.[CBS News]
- Most respondents assess the campaign against terrorism as having been at least somewhat successful.[CBS News]
- Roughly 50% believe the nation would unite as much or more if an overseas attack occurred today, while 40% doubt it would come together similarly.[CBS News]
- Opinions on domestic terror preparedness divide sharply by party, with most Republicans viewing the U.S. as prepared and most Democrats and independents disagreeing.[CBS News]
- The CBS News/YouGov poll surveyed 2,373 U.S. adults between Sept. 1 and Sept. 4, 2026, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.3 percentage points.[CBS News]
What remains uncertain
- Whether the American public would actually unite in the aftermath of a future overseas attack remains uncertain, with 40% expressing skepticism.[CBS News]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.