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Research indicates that supporters of the MAGA (Make America Great Again) ideology are more likely than other Americans to endorse, justify, and view political violence as necessary for achieving political goals. While they are not necessarily more likely to personally commit acts of violence, their increased endorsement of such tactics creates a climate of acceptance that raises the overall risk of violence.
Key Findings on MAGA Ideology and Violence:
Endorsement of Violence: Studies in 2024 showed that a significant portion of self-identified "MAGA Republicans" (56% in one study) considered violence "usually or always justified" to advance at least one of 21 specific political objectives. This is a 30-point difference compared to non-MAGA non-Republicans.
Specific Motivations: Supporters often cite motivations such as stopping elections from being "stolen," fighting perceived existential threats to the country, and opposing those with different political beliefs.
Predicting Conflict: There is a higher belief among this group that a "civil war" is coming or necessary to set things right.
Risk Factors: The ideology often overlaps with beliefs in Christian nationalism, QAnon, and various conspiracy theories, which researchers link to higher support for violent tactics.
Perpetuation of Risk: While researchers found that MAGA Republicans were not inherently more likely to personally commit violent acts than others, their, strong, shared justification of it increases the likelihood of violence occurring.