Increased support for political violence in the USA

Political violence can be justified, an increasing number of the population in the USA believes. The trend is seen among people who want Donald Trump to become president again – but is even more common among those who are against it, according to a study.

» Published: July 18 2024

Increased support for political violence in the USA
Photo: Matt Rourke/AP/TT

Political violence can be justified, an increasing number of people in the US believe.

The trend is visible among people who want Donald Trump to become president again – but is even more common among those who are against it, according to a study.

Political violence has become more common in the US in recent years. Support for political violence has also increased among the population, notes Robert Pape, professor of political science at The University of Chicago.

He has studied political violence for 30 years and since the storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021, has focused on political violence in the US.

We found, from the beginning, significant support for political violence among the general public, he says to CBS.

Want to stop Trump

In Pape's latest survey from June, support for political violence has increased. When asked if it is justified to use violence to make Donald Trump president again, 6.9 percent answer yes – but those who believe it is justified to prevent Trump from becoming president again are even more numerous.

We have found that 10 percent of adult Americans support the use of violence to stop Donald Trump from becoming president, says Robert Pape.

Among those who believe political violence is justified, regardless of the reason, a significant proportion own guns, the survey shows.

The more intense the political environment becomes, the more likely it is that there will be anger and the more likely that anger will spill over into political violence. We must start taking this seriously, says Pape.

"Overarching climate"

Most Americans still do not see violence as a way to resolve political disagreements, but recent studies have shown the same trend, that support for violence is increasing.

Last fall, 23 percent believed that "patriots may need to use violence to save our country", compared to 15 percent when the same question was asked in 2021, in a study by the PRRI institute in collaboration with the Brookings Institution think tank.

There is a certain increased support for political violence and also an increased willingness to engage in it among ordinary Americans, says Cynthia Miller-Idriss at American University's Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab, to PBS.

According to her, everyone must think about how they act in their daily lives to reduce polarization.

Every time you justify this type of violence, you never know who will hear it, or how it contributes to an overarching climate where violence is seen as a solution.

Support for using violence to stop Donald Trump from becoming president again is greater than support for using violence to install him in the White House again.

6.9 percent of the study's participants answer that violence is justified to reinstall Trump as president.

10.0 percent believe that violence is justified to prevent Trump from becoming president again.

The survey was conducted on June 20-24, 2024, by the Chicago Project on Security & Threats (CPOST) at The University of Chicago. 2,061 people responded. The margin of error was 2.97 percent.

Source: Chicago Project on Security & Threats

Tags

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Grave Cleanup Sparks South Korea's
1 MIN READ

Grave Cleanup Sparks South Korea's Largest Forest Fire

Earthquake in Thailand Claims 17
1 MIN READ

Earthquake in Thailand Claims 17 Lives, Dozens Injured and Missing

Genre image
1 MIN READ

Russian Attack on Kharkiv Leaves Two Dead, Dozens Injured

Genre image
1 MIN READ

Hind Kabawat Becomes First Female Minister in Syria's New Government

Genre image
1 MIN READ

Ukraine Accuses Russia of Drone Strike on Kharkiv Military Hospital

Hezbollah Condemns Israeli Airstrikes on
1 MIN READ

Hezbollah Condemns Israeli Airstrikes on Lebanon After Ceasefire

Zelensky Highlights Russia's Silence on
1 MIN READ

Zelensky Highlights Russia's Silence on US Ceasefire Proposal

Hamas Agrees to Ceasefire Proposal;
1 MIN READ

Hamas Agrees to Ceasefire Proposal; Israel Submits Counter-Offer

Israel Expands Ground Offensive in
1 MIN READ

Israel Expands Ground Offensive in Southern Gaza

Frederiksen's Greenland Visit Signals Closer
2 MIN READ

Frederiksen's Greenland Visit Signals Closer Denmark-USA Ties

Myanmar Earthquake Victims Face Dire
2 MIN READ

Myanmar Earthquake Victims Face Dire Healthcare Shortage, UN Warns

Two Dead, 105 Arrested in
1 MIN READ

Two Dead, 105 Arrested in Nepal Protests Over Former Monarchy

US Aid Halt Sparks Toxic
5 MIN READ

US Aid Halt Sparks Toxic Risk in Vietnam, Cleanup Efforts Stalled

Drone Strike in Pakistan Kills
1 MIN READ

Drone Strike in Pakistan Kills Over Ten, Including Children

Protesters in Copenhagen Rally Against
1 MIN READ

Protesters in Copenhagen Rally Against US Interest in Greenland

Genre image
1 MIN READ

Several Injured in Serious Violent Incident in Trondheim, Norway

Massive Istanbul Protests Demand Release
1 MIN READ

Massive Istanbul Protests Demand Release of Mayor Imamoglu

Guinea Pardons Ex-Dictator Camara After
1 MIN READ

Guinea Pardons Ex-Dictator Camara After Arena Massacre Sentence

Over 100,000 Russian Soldiers Confirmed
1 MIN READ

Over 100,000 Russian Soldiers Confirmed Dead in Ukraine Conflict

Denmark Criticizes US VP Vance's
1 MIN READ

Denmark Criticizes US VP Vance's Remarks on Greenland Visit

US Expands Airstrikes in Yemen
2 MIN READ

US Expands Airstrikes in Yemen Targeting Houthi-Controlled Areas

FDA Vaccine Chief Resigns, Cites
1 MIN READ

FDA Vaccine Chief Resigns, Cites Kennedy's Misinformation

16 Maoist Rebels Killed in
1 MIN READ

16 Maoist Rebels Killed in Ongoing Clashes with Indian Forces

Greenland's Jørgen Boassen Faces Backlash,
2 MIN READ

Greenland's Jørgen Boassen Faces Backlash, Supports US Ties

Football Fan Discovers Sensitive UK
2 MIN READ

Football Fan Discovers Sensitive UK Military Documents in Trash Bag

Myanmar Earthquake Claims Over 1,600
2 MIN READ

Myanmar Earthquake Claims Over 1,600 Lives, Rescue Efforts Intensify

Columbia University President Steps Down
1 MIN READ

Columbia University President Steps Down After Funding Agreement

Utah Enacts Ban on Rainbow
1 MIN READ

Utah Enacts Ban on Rainbow Flags in Schools and Government Buildings

Genre image
1 MIN READ

Russian Drone Attack on Dnipro Leaves Four Dead, Many Injured

Yemen's Huthi Movement Accuses US
1 MIN READ

Yemen's Huthi Movement Accuses US of Airstrikes on Sanaa

Damascus Lifts Alcohol Ban in
1 MIN READ

Damascus Lifts Alcohol Ban in Christian Quarters After Protests

Zelensky Open to Peace Talks
1 MIN READ

Zelensky Open to Peace Talks with Russia, Excluding Putin

South Sudan's Vice President Riek
1 MIN READ

South Sudan's Vice President Riek Machar Placed Under House Arrest

Trump and Canada's Carney Report
2 MIN READ

Trump and Canada's Carney Report Productive Talks on US-Canada Relations

Ukraine Recovers 909 Soldiers' Remains
1 MIN READ

Ukraine Recovers 909 Soldiers' Remains from Russian Conflict

Frederiksen Calls Vance's Criticism of
2 MIN READ

Frederiksen Calls Vance's Criticism of Denmark Unfair During Greenland Visit

Greenland's New Government Aims for
2 MIN READ

Greenland's New Government Aims for Stability and Unity

Bangkok Skyscraper Collapse Caught on
1 MIN READ

Bangkok Skyscraper Collapse Caught on Camera in 30 Seconds

Putin and Erdogan Talk Black
1 MIN READ

Putin and Erdogan Talk Black Sea Deal and Sanctions Relief

Denmark Proposes Defense Pact with
2 MIN READ

Denmark Proposes Defense Pact with US Amid Diplomatic Tensions