Poll Finds Americans Still See 9/11 as Defining, Yet Unity Has Declined

The early-September 2026 survey indicates that while a majority consider the September 11 attacks a watershed that reshaped the United States, fewer believe the country is as united as it was then. Respondents generally judge the anti-terrorism campaign as at least partially effective, though many remain uneasy about terrorism. Views on preparedness split along partisan lines, with Republicans more confident than Democrats and independents. About a quarter of adults have visited a 9/11 memorial or museum.