Political Violence Acceptance Among Americans: A New Survey

On Monday, Vice President JD Vance discussed voting data that reveals a striking acceptance of political violence among self-identified “very liberal” Americans compared to their “very conservative” counterparts.

Speaking on the Charlie Kirk Show, Vance outlined what he described as a “difficult truth” from the White House that needs confronting, if unity is the goal. He referenced alarming statistics from YouGov polls.

A recent investigation highlighted that 24% of “very liberal” respondents felt it was acceptable to be “content with the death of a public figure they oppose.” This sentiment was echoed by only 3% of “very conservative” respondents, as well as 10% of those who identified as “liberal” and 4% of “conservative” individuals.

The trends continued when younger respondents aged 18-44 were asked if they could justify political violence. Here, 26% of liberal respondents saw it as a legitimate political tool, while only 7% of conservatives and 12% of moderates shared that view.

“In a nation of 330 million, we can certainly find individuals from various political backgrounds who justify this behavior, but the data is clear: those on the left seem more likely to defend and even celebrate political violence,” Vance noted.

He added, “This isn’t an issue affecting both sides equally. If there are problems on both sides, there’s a much larger and concerning issue on one side. We need to acknowledge that. The consequences are significant.”

Vance pointed to recent threats against public figures, including an assassination attempt involving Trump and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, and emphasized that there’s an environment being cultivated on the left that condones political violence.

“Violence doesn’t emerge in a vacuum. Regardless of the underlying political movements, violence represents a consolidation of power—like a pyramid sustained by donors, activists, journalists, and others, including politicians and social media influencers. While most people within that structure aren’t violent, the glorification and rationalization of such acts create a dangerous atmosphere,” he elaborated.

In closing, Vance stressed that truth-telling is “the only way to honor Kirk,” pointing out that the essential truth that Kirk conveyed is rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ. “Like me, Charlie believed that the truths he expressed were drawn from that fundamental principle,” he stated.

The YouGov poll involved a sample of 2,646 adults in the U.S. as of September 10, with a margin of error of ±2.5% points.