Overview
- Twenty-four percent of U.S. adults say political violence can sometimes be justified, rising to more than one in three among those under 45, while 64% say it is never acceptable.
- Fifty-five percent expect political violence to increase in the coming years, with older adults more likely to foresee a rise than younger respondents.
- More than half of Americans say it is likely a political candidate will be assassinated within five years, including 51% of Trump voters and 53% of those who voted for Kamala Harris.
- The findings cut across party lines and come after high-profile incidents such as the September assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and past attempts on President Donald Trump.
- The Politico/Public First survey was conducted online Oct. 18–21 among 2,051 adults (±2.2 points), and an expert cited by Politico describes an era of “violent populism.”