Overview

• The YouGov poll of 2,643 U.S. adults on September 11 found 20% of 18- to 29-year-olds say political violence is sometimes justified, compared with 14% of millennials, 8% of Gen X, and 3% of those 65 and older.
• The findings followed the fatal shooting of right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, one of several high-profile incidents over the past year.
• Recent cases include two assassination attempts against President Donald Trump during the 2024 campaign and the December 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City.
• Prosecutors say some young suspects were driven by ideological hatred, with investigators citing a manifesto in the Thompson case, though the accused, Luigi Mangione, denies involvement.
• Experts and officials point to social media’s amplification of extreme views and to economic strain on young adults, with cited research noting low earnings, multiple jobs, and widespread paycheck-to-paycheck living.