New Survey Shows Young Liberals More Open to Justifying Political Violence

YouGov polling reveals nearly one in five young adults and one in four very liberal Americans believe political violence can sometimes be justified.

The death of civil rights leader Charlie Kirk has brought renewed attention to the national debate over political violence, and new polling data suggests younger, liberal Americans are far more likely than others to believe it can sometimes be justified.

A YouGov poll conducted in the days following Kirk’s assassination shows that while most Americans (72%) say political violence is never justified, troubling divides appear along age and ideological lines.

Among adults under 30, 19% said political violence can sometimes be justified, compared to just 6% of adults 65 and older. Similarly, 25% of self-identified “very liberal” respondents said political violence can sometimes be justified, compared with only 4% of conservatives.

The survey also found that 16% of liberals said it was acceptable to feel joy at the death of a political opponent, including nearly one-quarter of very liberal Americans. By comparison, just 4% of conservatives agreed.

While YouGov stressed that these remain minority opinions, the results highlight a generational and ideological gap. Younger Americans, particularly those on the left, are consistently more open to excusing political violence, even while acknowledging it remains broadly unacceptable. 

Kirk, who was killed at age 31, had long warned about the dangers of normalizing political violence. His death has spurred widespread condemnation, but the polling suggests the country remains deeply divided over just how seriously to treat rhetoric and actions that cross the line.

“When people stop talking, that’s when you get violence.” - Charlie Kirk