"When do we get to use the guns?" wondered an attendee last week at a right-wing event hosted by Turning Point USA's Charlie Kirk. "How many elections are they gonna steal before we kill these people?"
The question touched a national nerve, drawing headlines across the country. Now a new poll from the Public Religion Research Institute shows how all of Donald Trump's lies about an election he unequivocally lost have radicalized a notable portion of the country to believe that violence might be the way forward.
The PRRI survey found that 18% of all Americans say that "true American patriots might have to resort to violence in order to save our country," including 30% of Republicans, 17% of independents, and 11% of Democrats.
But the percentage of those supporting potential use of violence was among its highest with Americans who believe the 2020 election was stolen from Trump. Fully 39% of those who say 2020 was stolen agreed that violence may be necessary to save the country.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, support for potential violence figured most prominently among those bought into Trump's incessant lying about the 2020 election (39%) and those who most trust far-right news outlets (40%). Among those who say things have changed so much they feel like a stranger in their own country, a smaller 29% share said violence might be a solution. And 27% of those who say "God has granted America a special role in human history" said violence might be necessary.
Reflecting the findings of multiple other polls, PRRI found that 31% of Americans baselessly believe 2020 was stolen, including 68% of Republicans. And the more fringe their media choices, the greater the percentage who bought Trump's factless stolen election lie.
Indeed, 82% of Republicans who most trust Fox News think 2020 was stolen, while 97% of Republicans who trust far-right media believe Trump won the election.
But the PRRI poll's biggest contribution was showing the link between those who think 2020 was stolen and those who hold radical views about using violence as a legitimate political tool.
The question touched a national nerve, drawing headlines across the country. Now a new poll from the Public Religion Research Institute shows how all of Donald Trump's lies about an election he unequivocally lost have radicalized a notable portion of the country to believe that violence might be the way forward.
The PRRI survey found that 18% of all Americans say that "true American patriots might have to resort to violence in order to save our country," including 30% of Republicans, 17% of independents, and 11% of Democrats.
But the percentage of those supporting potential use of violence was among its highest with Americans who believe the 2020 election was stolen from Trump. Fully 39% of those who say 2020 was stolen agreed that violence may be necessary to save the country.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, support for potential violence figured most prominently among those bought into Trump's incessant lying about the 2020 election (39%) and those who most trust far-right news outlets (40%). Among those who say things have changed so much they feel like a stranger in their own country, a smaller 29% share said violence might be a solution. And 27% of those who say "God has granted America a special role in human history" said violence might be necessary.
Reflecting the findings of multiple other polls, PRRI found that 31% of Americans baselessly believe 2020 was stolen, including 68% of Republicans. And the more fringe their media choices, the greater the percentage who bought Trump's factless stolen election lie.
Indeed, 82% of Republicans who most trust Fox News think 2020 was stolen, while 97% of Republicans who trust far-right media believe Trump won the election.
But the PRRI poll's biggest contribution was showing the link between those who think 2020 was stolen and those who hold radical views about using violence as a legitimate political tool.