US political violence support shows conflicting trends in recent studies

Recent research presents conflicting perspectives on the prevalence and trends of political violence support in the United States.

An analysis from the Centers for Violence Prevention at the University of California Davis indicates a “broad decrease” in support for political violence between mid-2025 and mid-2026. Dr. Garen Wintemute noted that the vast majority of survey participants have rejected political violence since 2022, suggesting that escalating violence is not inevitable. The study found that support for violence remains stronger on the political right than on the left.

Conversely, data from the Chicago Project on Security and Threats (CPOST) at the University of Chicago suggests significant levels of support for the use of force. Political scientist Robert Pape reported that 25% of American adults—approximately 65 million people—say they support using force to prevent Donald Trump from being president, a figure that includes 44% of self-identified Democrats. Pape warned that political violence has reached levels not seen since the 1960s and expressed concern regarding the potential for increased volatility surrounding the 2026 midterm elections.