"The View" co-host Sunny Hostin expressed outrage over a recent poll finding that 10% of Americans support violence against former President Donald Trump, calling it "despicable" in the wake of a second assassination attempt targeting the former president. This disturbing statistic highlights a concerning trend of normalized political violence in the United States.
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Political Violence in America: Poll Shows 10% of Americans Support Violence Against Donald Trump
The alarming results of a recent poll conducted by the University of Chicago via its Chicago Project on Security and Threats have sent shockwaves through the nation. The poll revealed that 10% of American adults, representing approximately 26 million individuals, believe violence is justified to prevent Donald Trump from regaining the presidency. The poll also found that nine million of these individuals possess firearms, while 22 million have access to "internet organizational tools."
Sunny Hostin, a co-host of the popular talk show "The View," condemned the poll findings as "despicable" and expressed deep concern over the normalization of political violence in the United States. Hostin emphasized that this support for violence is not confined to one political side but has been observed across the political spectrum.
Political Violence in America: Poll Shows 10% of Americans Support Violence Against Donald Trump
"I am so saddened and disturbed by the fact that political violence is so normalized in this country," Hostin said. "There is more support for violence today against Trump and others, against Trump, 10% of American adults think it’s OK," she continued, highlighting the disturbing implications of such a large segment of the population condoning such extreme measures.
Hostin pointed to other recent instances of political violence, including the attack on Nancy Pelosi's husband, Paul, in 2022, as evidence of the prevalence of this dangerous trend. She argued that the escalating rhetoric among politicians has fueled this climate of violence: "The way our politicians are speaking right now, we never would have seen that 20 years ago … People will say and do anything, and it’s not just on the national level, this trickle down, we’re seeing it in politicians, but somehow that’s come all the way down and a lot of that’s due to technology, and social media."
Political Violence in America: Poll Shows 10% of Americans Support Violence Against Donald Trump
Other co-hosts of "The View" echoed Hostin's concerns, with Sara Haines blaming the rhetoric used by politicians for the surge in political violence. Ana Navarro further emphasized the need for a comprehensive dialogue on the accessibility of assault weapons, arguing that this discussion is crucial in light of the use of such weapons in both recent assassination attempts on Trump.
"We need to talk about how people with mental health issues keep getting easy access to assault weapons," Navarro said. "The last assassination attempt was an AR-15. This was an AK-47. So we need to have that conversation in America." Hostin concurred, adding, "Maybe it's less about mental health and more about America’s fascination with guns."
This poll and the subsequent discussion on "The View" highlight a pressing issue that demands immediate attention. The normalization of political violence poses a grave threat to the fabric of American society, and it is imperative that lawmakers and citizens alike engage in constructive dialogue to address this alarming trend.
