Support for authoritarianism and use of force by and against the federal government in the United States in mid-2025: findings from a nationally representative survey.

backgroundDuring this period of heightened risk for political violence and authoritarian government in the United States (US), there is an urgent need for information on the public's support for authoritarianism and government-initiated violence and its willingness to engage in pro- or anti-government violence.

methodsFindings are from Wave 4, conducted May 23-June 13, 2025, of a nationally representative annual longitudinal survey of adult members of the Ipsos KnowledgePanel. Findings are presented for the cohort as a whole and for demographic and political affiliation subgroups. Outcomes are expressed as weighted prevalences and adjusted prevalence differences, with p-values adjusted for the false discovery rate.

resultsThe survey completion rate was 89.9%. Of 8248 respondents, 15.0% (95% confidence interval (CI) 13.9%, 16.1%) strongly or very strongly agreed that "having a strong leader for America is more important than having a democracy." One in 10 (9.6%, 95% CI 8.8%, 10.6%) strongly or very strongly agreed that "the [federal] government should use the military to help enforce its policies in the United States," and 4.4% (95% CI 3.7%, 5.2%) strongly or very strongly agreed with the use of "private armed militia groups" for that purpose. Between 5% and 7% of respondents strongly or very strongly agreed that the federal government should arrest its critics, and about 2% were very or completely willing to personally engage in violence in support of (or opposition to) "government policies or the President" and against individual opponents (or supporters) of the government. Younger respondents tended to be less supportive of democracy as a form of government, more supportive of statements consistent with authoritarianism, and more willing to engage in pro- or anti-government violence. Compared with strong Democrats, "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) Republicans were more supportive of statements consistent with authoritarianism and the current federal government's use of the military and private militia groups but were not more willing personally to engage in violence.

conclusionsIn 2025, substantial minorities of US adults endorsed statements consistent with authoritarianism. Smaller minorities endorsed and were willing to engage in pro- or anti-government violence. These findings call for sustained, concerted action to avert widespread political violence and preserve democracy in the United States.