Here’s the One Big Thing the Polls Get Wrong About Americans’ Support for Political Violence

Here’s the one big thing the polls get wrong about Americans’ support for political violence

If you’ve been paying attention to the polls lately, you’ve probably noticed some unsettling conclusions about the ranks of Americans who say political violence is justified or they’re willing to support the use of force for political ends.

Far fewer Americans support political violence than recent polls suggest

Some surveys have reported that a large number of Americans are willing to support the use of force for political ends. stellalevi, DigitalVision Vectors/Getty ImagesA series of recent events has sparked alarm about rising levels of political violence in the U.S. These episodes include the assassination of political activist Charlie Kirk on Sept. 10, 2025; the murder of a Democratic Minnesota state legislator and her husband in June 2025; and tw…