A recent study conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute has revealed concerning statistics regarding support for political violence among Republicans, specifically those with a favorable view of former President Donald Trump. The study indicates that more than one in four Republicans and nearly one in three Republicans who hold a positive opinion of Trump deem political violence acceptable.

The survey, undertaken by the nonprofit research organization, examined the attitudes towards political violence among Americans. It discovered that while only one in six Americans overall approves of political violence, the numbers are significantly higher among Republicans than Democrats. The release of this study coincides with the first presidential election since the violent mob attack on the U.S. Capitol earlier this year, and two months following an assassination attempt on Trump.

Robert Jones, President of the Public Religion Research Institute, emphasized that this issue is not limited to mere partisan lines. He stated, "It's a Trump and MAGA issue. It's the kind of Trumpian takeover of the Republican Party." The study highlights that 27% of Republicans and 32% of Republicans with a favorable view of Trump agree that "patriots may have to resort to violence in order to save our country." In contrast, only 10% of independents and 8% of Democrats hold the same belief.

Furthermore, the survey identified a connection between support for political violence and endorsement of authoritarianism. Among Republicans, 67% scored high on an authoritarian scale, including 75% of Trump-favoring Republicans. In comparison, 35% of independents and 28% of Democrats showed high levels of authoritarian tendencies. The study gauged authoritarianism by asking respondents if they agreed with statements such as "do what the authorities tell us to do, and get rid of the 'rotten apples,'" or if they believed that the country needed "to put some tough leaders in power, and silence the troublemakers spreading bad ideas."

Jones highlighted the stark difference in attitudes between Republicans who hold an unfavorable view of Trump and those who view him favorably. He observed that Republicans with an unfavorable view are far less likely to exhibit authoritarian traits or support political violence.

In terms of future election scenarios, the study found that 24% of Republicans and 27% of Trump-favoring Republicans believe that "if the 2024 presidential election is compromised by voter fraud, everyday Americans will need to ensure the rightful leader takes office, even if it requires taking violent actions." In contrast, only 15% of independents and 10% of Democrats agreed with this statement. Additionally, a significant number of Republicans (24%) expressed support for armed citizens to serve as poll watchers during presidential elections, compared to 28% of Trump-supporting Republicans, and just 10% of independents and Democrats.

The notion of armed poll watchers raises concerns, as it presents opportunities for potential abuse. The Brennan Center for Justice at New York University has already highlighted the risks associated with armed individuals showing up at voting sites during the 2022 elections.

Robert Pape, a professor at the University of Chicago who tracks views on political violence, expressed deep alarm regarding the current climate. He stated, "We have been a tinderbox of a country for years, and we are heading into not just the most contentious election in our lifetimes but probably the most dangerous of our lifetimes." Previous polls conducted by the University of Chicago discovered that a significant portion of Americans support the use of force both to bring Trump back to the presidency and to prevent his return.

As the 2024 presidential election approaches, experts are concerned about the potential escalation of violence. Pape warned, "The real danger starts on Nov. 6. Most people right now are very focused on Nov. 5, but the real danger here is likely to start Nov. 6."

The findings of this study highlight the urgent need for bipartisan efforts to address and mitigate the alarming support for political violence among certain segments of the population.