A new poll has revealed a significant increase in the number of Americans who believe political violence is necessary to steer the country in the right direction. The survey, conducted by NPR, PBR News, and Marist, found that 28% of Democrats and 31% of Republicans share this view, following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk last month.
The figures represent a 16 percentage point rise among Democrats and a three point increase among Republicans compared to previous data. The poll, which surveyed over 1,400 people, has a margin of error of approximately three percentage points. However, the majority of Americans still reject political violence as a tool for change, with 79% of respondents overall opposing it—including 87% of Democrats and 70% of Republicans.
Separately, 77% of respondents described political violence as a major concern, though opinions differed on its most worrying form. While 70% of Democrats were most concerned about violence directed at protesters, a similar proportion of Republicans worried about violence against public officials.
In the aftermath of Kirk's death, conservative influencers and members of the Trump administration wrongly attributed the rise in political violence to left-wing groups, including through harsh rhetoric. However, studies indicate that right-wing extremists have been responsible for more deaths in the US since 9/11 than any other extremist ideology.
President Trump signed an executive order in late September designating 'Antifa' as a domestic terrorist organisation, despite the movement lacking central leadership. Civil rights groups and First Amendment experts have warned that the order could be used to suppress legitimate opposition. Attorney General Pam Bondi has also vowed to prosecute 'hate speech' as a form of political violence, although most offensive speech is protected under the First Amendment.
