Key facts
- 33% of Americans surveyed in a Reuters/Ipsos poll identified domestic terrorism as the biggest threat to safety.
- 20% of respondents cited foreign terror as the biggest threat, down from 28% in 2013.
- 42% of respondents pointed to random acts of violence like mass shootings.
- 61% of respondents believe ideology-driven attacks by domestic extremists pose a greater threat than those from abroad.
- 48% of Americans believe the war in Afghanistan was not worth its cost.
- 51% disapprove of the war in Iraq.
- 25% of Americans believe the war on Iran has been worth it.
- 60% of Americans think the U.S. government's response to 9/11 has been effective in preventing attacks.
- 75% of Americans believe the beefed-up airport security post-9/11 has been worth the disruptions.
- 65% of Americans oppose allowing U.S. intelligence agencies to monitor electronic communications without a warrant.
Twenty-five years after the September 11 attacks, Americans now express greater concern about domestic extremists than foreign terrorist groups, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll. The survey, conducted from August 28-31, found that 33% of respondents identified domestic terrorism as the biggest threat to Americans' safety, compared to 20% who cited foreign terror. This marks a significant shift from mid-2013, when only 21% viewed domestic terror as the top threat, while 28% pointed to foreign terror.
The poll also revealed that 42% of respondents believe random acts of violence, such as mass shootings, pose the greatest threat. When asked about ideology-driven attacks, 61% of respondents indicated that domestic extremists present a larger threat than those from abroad.
Despite the shift in perceived threats, the legacy of the September 11 attacks remains potent, with six in 10 people reporting they still think about the events periodically and a similar share supporting military action in response to another major attack. However, public sentiment regarding the subsequent wars is largely negative, with 48% believing the war in Afghanistan was not worth the cost and 51% disapproving of the war in Iraq. The recent conflict initiated by President Donald Trump against Iran also faces public skepticism, with 54% of Americans feeling it has not been worth the effort.
The poll indicates that a majority of Americans, 60%, believe the U.S. government's response to 9/11 has been effective in preventing attacks on U.S. soil. There is also bipartisan support for enhanced airport security measures implemented after the attacks, with 75% of Republicans and 71% of Democrats finding them worthwhile despite disruptions. However, a significant portion of the public, 65%, opposes allowing U.S. intelligence agencies to monitor citizens' electronic communications without a warrant. The survey of 1,167 U.S. adults nationwide had margins of error between 3 and 6 percentage points.