Shock survey finds nearly half of Democrats back violence to stop Trump from being president

A new University of Chicago survey has found 44 per cent of self-identified Democrats support using force to prevent Trump from being president. Political scientist Robert Pape called the figure “stunning”, warning that support for political violence has surged well beyond fringe groups. The same survey found 25 per cent of all American adults backed using force against Trump, equivalent to roughly 65 million people nationwide. Pape said follow-up research suggests some respondents understood “force” to include assassination, while others imagined riot-style violence. He warned the 2026 midterms could become a dangerous flashpoint if losing candidates or supporters reject the legitimacy of the result.