It seems that many young Americans aren’t inclined to criticize those who admire accused murderer Luigi Mangione.
According to a recent survey by the Cato Institute, about 40% of Americans aged 18 to 29 think that “citizens taking violent action against the rich” can occasionally be justified. This perspective has become increasingly common with each new generation.
40% of young Americans think violence against the rich can be justified: pic.twitter.com/WHyh1oeZSa
— Rob Henderson (@robkhenderson) October 22, 2025
The survey involved a total of 2,000 participants and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.41%.
The most significant generational divide appears to be between those aged 45 to 54 and those aged 30 to 44. Among the former, 14% believe violence against the rich is sometimes justified, while 29% of the latter share that sentiment. (RELATED: HART: Young Folks Today Differ So Much From Us)
This trend isn’t particularly surprising.
Mangione has garnered a following, even after being charged with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Supporters can purchase Mangione merchandise or simply revel in the online praise directed at someone accused of killing a father of two.
Similarly, the murder of Wesley LePatner, a Blackstone senior executive, has not gone unnoticed by some. As documented by Maya Sulkin for The Free Press, LePatner was shot in Manhattan this summer, and some viewed his death positively.
To critics, Thompson and LePatner seem to represent more than just individuals; they epitomize the wealth that many young people resent.
“I’m married to Luigi’s AI, I’m not kidding,” a supporter of Mangione said outside a NYC court. pic.twitter.com/mVGIgUGW61
— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) September 16, 2025
The idea of “eat the rich” has gained traction, especially between the formative years of Generation X and Millennials.
Gen X Americans grew up with certain expectations about achieving affluence through hard work, homeownership, and maintaining their parents’ social status. In contrast, Millennials often bond over shared financial struggles, finding a sense of virtue in living with limited means or student debt.
This perspective suggests that wealth is largely a matter of luck or exploitation, a view that, while widespread, doesn’t fully capture the complexities of financial realities.
Life is undeniably tough for many young Americans today. Economic prosperity has declined since the mid-20th century, impacting more than just finances. (RELATED: Young People Are About To Discover Political Power They Never Knew They Had)
As Tony Soprano poignantly said, “It’s good to be in something from the ground floor, and I came too late for that, I know. But lately I’ve been getting a feeling that I came at the end. The best is over.”
This sentiment resonates, I think, with a large number of Americans today—perhaps even more so than in the 1990s.
Other demographics showing a high percentage of agreement with the idea that violent action against the rich is sometimes justified, according to Cato, include:
- 40% of atheists
- 42% of agnostics
- 51% of students
- 54% of those identifying as “very liberal”
- 55% of Muslims
- 77% of Hindus
Interestingly, even 21% of respondents with a family income over $150,000 support the notion of “eating the rich,” raising questions about who they consider “rich.” Is it Jeff Bezos, or is there a different threshold?
