Poll: Half of Americans anticipate violence after election

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Riots associated with Black Lives Matter movement during the 2020 election cycle.

About half of voters polled by the Rasmussen Reports company expect violence to occur when the election results are revealed after Nov. 5.

In a quick poll conducted by Must Read Alaska on X/Twitter, 89% of respondents said they think Democrats will riot and ransack cities if Trump wins. That is not a scientific poll, however.

In the Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey, 51% of likely voters believe it’s likely there will be a violent reaction if Vice President Kamala Harris is elected president, including 26% who say such a reaction is Very Likely.

However, 47% also think a violent reaction is likely if former President Donald Trump wins, including 23% who say violence is very likely to follow a Trump victory.

To see survey question wording, click here.

The survey was conducted among almost 3,000 voters on Oct. 17, and 20-21.

Voters have strong feelings about this election with both presidential candidates evoking emotional responses from people. Those who do not like Donald Trump have severe reaction to him, known as Trump Derangement Syndrome. Already in this campaign cycle, at least two known assassination attempts have been made on Trump, and Kamala Harris continues to compare him to Hitler, stoking deep emotional responses from Trump-haters and providing cover for a violent reaction to his election.

This week, President Joe Biden said it is time to lock up Trump, before he bumbled his way into explaining he meant something different.

Trump Derangement Syndrome is a term traced back to the late political writer Charles Krauthammer, who first came up with the phrase “Bush derangement syndrome” in 2003.

Krauthammer, who was no fan of Trump’s, said Trump Derangement Syndrome is like a “general hysteria” that resulted in an “inability to distinguish between legitimate policy differences and signs of psychic pathology” in Trump’s behavior.

Later, others have noted that the hatred some people have of Trump impairs their judgment.

“Signs of TDS can be observed along a continuum of reactions, ranging from verbal expressions of intense hostility toward President Trump to overt acts of aggression and even violence against anyone supporting or anything symbolizing him. The recent assassination attempt on Trump’s life provides compelling evidence of the volatility and potential dangers of TDS if left unchecked,” writes psychologist Alex Pattakos Ph.D. in Psychology Today. “In the case of TDS, “Donald Trump,” broadly defined to include anything associated with him, has come to represent such an unconditional stimulus. As such, it triggers what appears to be an automatic response or reaction.”

109 COMMENTS

  1. If Trump wins, which I don’t think will happen sadly, we will see round 2 of the 2020 riots. Much worse and on a much larger scale. Between brainwashed liberals and all the thugs that have crossed our border, we will need the National Guard if not the military itself.

  2. Every man to his best judgement–you certainly can’t get more than that out of anybody. Whatever may be will be. I have no hope in the promise of man.

  3. There will be protests, probably some riots, if Trump wins. As happened in 2016.

    If Harris wins, there might be another attempt to sack the Capitol and overturn a legitimate election at Trump’s urging. As happened in 2021.

    One of these outcomes is worse for the US than the other.

    • There will not be another event at the Capital. Unlike the folks on the left, the people on the right are smart enough not to make the same mistake twice.
      And, “at Trump’s urging?” Seriously, even CNN is dropping those claims.
      .
      Gee… I wonder… which outcome would to see as worse for the US? Based on your comments here on MRAK, I think you would be OK with the rioting, versus some folks trespassing.

      • If I had to choose between rioting and insurrection, I’ll go with rioting. While destructive, the riots were an expression of anger and frustration (a stupid expression). January 6 was no mere trespassing. It was a concerted effort to subvert the peaceful transfer of power, based on lies told by Trump and his team of clown lawyers. Both are terrible, but one could lead to the downfall of our nation, the other results in a lot of buildings being burned.

        If you really think Jan 6 was a non-event, then you’re a bigger idiot than I ever took you for.

        • What “insurrection?”
          Sorry, Bill, but just using that word to describe the event does not make it an actual insurrection.
          .
          Now, if January 6th was really a concerted effort to subvert the peaceful transfer of power, Trump would still be in the White House. The MAGA crowd is very heavily armed. If they wanted to take over the seat of government, there would not be a member of Congress still alive today.
          .
          As to it leading to the downfall of the country, perhaps take a look at the reaction to the Jan 6th event. The amount of time expended by the DOJ to prosecute people who did nothing worse (as demonstrated by the security camera footage) than enter the Capital. What is worse? A bunch of people acting badly, or a side of the political aisle that uses that event as an excuse to destroy people’s lives with heavy handed prosecutions?
          .
          And, I did not call Jan 6th a “non-event” Try actually reading the words that were written. Idiots are the ones that do not check before making statements.

        • “rioting and insurrection”…? Both are violence with political gain. Kind of like those “mostly peaceful protests”. BLM/antifa burned and looted 2 billion dollars over one summer. Exactly how much damage did the J6’ers do..?

          Sounds like you need professional help.

        • Bill.
          The event you are referencing indeed had the presence of bad actors and operatives who had a sole purpose of creating a hostile environment. You had operatives shouting at people to storm the capital, one man was called out as a fed. You had authorities firing weapons upon the crown outside. You had guards escorting the peaceful protesters inside while authorities stood by and watched as actual rioters destroyed parts of the building. Magnetic locking doors were opened and people freely toured the inside.
          Innocent participants were the ones captured and punished while that actual violent operatives were able to avoid media scrutiny ( for the most part).
          Ray Epps who was on video shouting for the invasion was let go free.

          Jan 6 was no MAGA insurrection. It was theater. It was a psychological operation. It was a tool to create a narrative that half of the country’s voters are now all to be considered domestic terrorists. (Understand the dangers of the Patriot Act in reference to terrorism).

          Then there is the useful sheep such as yourself who believe the media establishment. You actually think that half of your countrymen are violent insurrectionist. You have allowed the enemy of the people turn you into an enemy of a free people.

          A sad day when the brainwashed are shown the truth on a daily basis but willingly choose to believe comfortable lies.

          • “A sad day when the brainwashed are shown the truth on a daily basis but willingly choose to believe comfortable lies.”

            Which is the de facto definition (and purpose) of what you are actually meaning when you use the term ‘brainwashing’.

  4. Trump will unleash the MAGA crowd once again upon his defeat. He still his butt hurt from losing in 2020 and refuses to this day that he lost. He knows prison is in his future and will do everything in his power to avoid it. After the election is called for VP Harris judges need to have him turn in his passport immediately, as he will be a flight risk. He knows his days of freedom are coming to an end soon! LOCK HIM UP!

  5. Here is what I think is going to happen. Trump will win and as promised, He said he’s going to fire a bunch of people, including prosecutors, which means he likely is going to be an obstructionist of justice. That’s going to lead to another impeachment and possibly this time it’s going to stick, and he will be forcibly removed from office. He won’t go easily mind you, and without the support of the joint chiefs and the military, he has little hope of staying in office. There will be outlying skirmishes, and yes, some guerrilla type activity and
    we can always rely on the Portland and Seattle and Chicago crowd to burn a few cars. Trump will declare martial law this time.
    Some states will comply, and others will look the other way I don’t think it will be a full fledge civil war. Now russia, china and north korea, and also iran are going to notice this and use this opportunity to take their cheap shot, which, if that happens, we might be looking at armageddon. So if I was still in Alaska, I’d be buying up all the pork and beans and Spam and fruit cocktail, I could get my hands-on and start boarding up the windows. Don’t forget to buy a bottle of iodine pills. Your thyroid will thank you if there are nukes flying around.

        • It’s not the initial blast effect that will be the real disaster. It will be the permanent off-switch of all things electronic/digital from overlapping EMP’s and the subsequent collapse of the economy; long-term radioactive fallout; collapse of global agriculture.
          You very well may survive an initial blast; question is, will you want to?

        • No it does not, no will survive a nuke with multiple headed projectiles. Nor will you survive the following nuclear winter. Thanks for playing.

          • I’m not talking about surviving and multi warhead blast. I only know of a few people that could survive that, and they crawl out from underneath a rock in asia. I’m talking about residual radiation left over from nuclear blasts, which, if you are old enough to know that’s why they started putting iodine in salt?What’s so people would have iodine in their system because of the cold war fears. I’m sorry.I wasn’t more clear in my definition.

    • What events during Trump’s first term as President make you think any of that is going to actually happen?
      .
      The man was in the Oval Office for four years, and what dictatorial/tyrannical steps did he actually take? (No, Jan 6th is not one. Even the leftist news media admits he did not cause a riot). What do you have?
      .
      Yes, the man says a lot of things that he should not, especially about firing people, but in reality, what has he actually done? Did he really prosecute Hillary Clinton after saying he was going to? He could have, but did not. Do you really think he is going to prosecute Biden, Harris, or even that traitor Kelly? I doubt it.
      .
      So, what exact actions did Trump take when he was President that makes you think he will escalate if he wins?

      • Trump was caught off guard with the whole russia collusion thing, and later the impeachment actually both of them. It’s more about what he said now granted he’s 4 years more deranged and angry and bitter and older, so take all those things into consideration plus he’s always had a loose mouth and probably says things that he really is incapable of doing or only wishes that he could do. But when a tyrant and a madman, gets control of the reins, you don’t know if he’s gonna drive that buggy. Around in circles or over a cliff.

    • Hey there Forker, since you are so enlightened and are so sure that when Trump is elected he is planning on doing the EXACT SAME THING that the dem-dems did to him, why don’t you pull off your blinders and look and see where all the hate, anger, and vitriol is coming from. Newsflash, it isn’t coming from the Conservatives. Thing is, Conservatives believe that an armed society is a polite society and we WILL legally protect our lives and families if attacked by the crazed lunatics who are, and have been, fueled by the leftist dem-dems.
      .
      In the ever narrowing chance that Trump loses, AS LONG AS THERE IS FULL TRANSPARENCY, CHECKED AND CROSS CHECKED, nothing will happen. If however the same shenanigans happen as happened in 2020, what would you expect? The 3AM huge bump in ballots tallied singularly for the Bumbler… statistically impossible. If this happens again for the media created dem-dem candidate, seriously, would you expect the vast quiet majority will just ignore this as the nation continues to be decimated? If so, you are unreasonable.

  6. Hitler: Committed mass genocide, both of his own citizens, and citizens of neighboring countries that he invaded, got the entire world embroiled in a world war.

    Trump: No wars or major conflicts during 4 years in office.

    Democrats: “Trump is LITERALLY Hitler!!!!”

    Also Democrats: Falsely accusing everyone else of doing exactly what they are doing…..

  7. And it’s caused by the politicians doing everything they can IE lying stealing using the law and any other dirty trick to get elected so they can continue personal gain.

  8. This article begs credulity given that the biggest political violence related to an election in our history came from MAGA fanatics. More blind, biased reporting from MRAK.

    • Good thing there are facts, none of which you presented. 2 people died on J 6, Ashley Babbit and Rosalind Boyle, both at the hands of capitol police. How many died and how much destruction occurred during the 2020 pink Floyd riots. Nuff said.

    • The only thing blind and biased is your delusional brain and statement. The riots perpetrated by ANTIFA and BLM and the encouragement of the left including Harris during the GF riots were worse than anything your pea brain can imagine during the J6 that you and others want to claim was insurrection. If that was an insurrection than when the left installs the police state you will see something not happened since the civil war as we cleanse the government and as the Constitution and Bill of Rights declares is the right of the citizens.

    • I guess you were not alive when the riots ran rampant through DC on Jan 20, 2017. You write pretty well for someone who is less than eight years old. Because anyone with half a brain remembers the Disrupt J20 riots.
      .
      But, you go ahead and keep living in your little bubble. It is kind of cute actually, watching you display your lack of knowledge.

    • Awww, such a good little Democrat *pats on head
      Lying through your teeth just like your Leftwing masters tell you to.

      It was the Democrats who did over $3 BILLION in damages nationwide, as they embarked on an orgy of violence and destruction, but is cute that you tried to blame the other side…..

  9. There will absolutely, 100% assuredly be violence after the election.
    .
    If Trump wins, you can rest assured the left will not settle for screaming at the sky. The riots honoring a drug addicted criminal will pale in comparison. This will, of course, be described as peaceful protesting by the news media.
    .
    However, if Harris wins, the folks on the right might assemble on the National Mall and give a few speeches, and wave a few signs. Perhaps someone will defend themselves from a counter protester. And, the protesters will clean up their mess before they lave the Mall. The news media will portray this as a “violent” demonstration.

    • Your Harris winning scenario is completely debunked by history. I know you MAGAs love to pretend Jan 6 was just a peaceful protest, but deep down inside you’re not that blind and stupid, I hope. As for the cleaning up? Countless pictures of MAGA events showing the mess they left behind, and the many unpaid bills to local governments.

      The most directed violence against this nation’s peaceful transfer of power has been perpetrated by Trump and his MAGA crowds. That doesn’t excuse the other violence perpetrated by anti-MAGA goons by any means, but spare me your revisionist history of January 6.

      • “Your Harris winning scenario is completely debunked by history.”
        No it is not. BLM riots were mostly peaceful, per the news media. The folks that took over blocks in Seattle and Portland were not insurrectionists, despite the fact the created their own country. But… a conservative waves a sign, and the news media are all “See how violent that is!”
        And morons believe it.
        .
        I do not pretend Jan 6th is a peaceful protest. But, despite the insistence of the left, it was not an insurrection. If it were, Trump would still be President. Anyone who thinks otherwise is either blind or stupid.
        .
        Check out DisruptJ20 before you make claims like “The most directed violence against this nation’s peaceful transfer of power has been perpetrated by Trump and his MAGA crowds.”

        • “But… a conservative waves a sign, and the news media are all “See how violent that is!”

          Yeah, that’s not all Jan 6 was about. Nobody cares if a conservative waves a sign. But break into the capitol? Yeah, people will care about that.

          And just because Meal Team 6 couldn’t successfully pull off their objective doesn’t mean it wasn’t an insurrection attempt, albeit an ineffective and pitiful one.

          • Leftists disrupt the Senate during a Supreme Court Justice confirmation hearing. Not an insurrection.
            Pro hamass protestors storm Capital…. not an insurrection.
            An organization decides to disrupt an inauguration… Not an insurrection.
            .
            But, someone who supports the candidate you do not like, ZOMG!!!! GASP! The HORRORS! It is an insurrection that almost toppled the entire USA!!!!
            .
            It is interesting how well you have just illustrated my point. The news media, the leftists/globalists, and those who are too wrapped up in hatred for a Presidential candidate will insist on elevating any action the do not like into a horrific crime.
            .
            And the no body cares if a conservative waves a sign, tell that to the news media that does exactly what you are doing. Elevating a minor action into some kind of horrific offense. How many times have the talking heads ignored democrats saying they will fight for their constituents, but if a Republican says it, it is a call to violence. Tell me I am wrong on that. Go ahead.

          • Bill,
            I assume, since you repeatedly use the term, that you know what an insurrection is. I also assume that you can share with us all of the people charged with insurrection for the events you continue to describe as an insurrection, please feel free to share names and when they were convicted of insurrection.

      • The cops did not kill him.
        His drug addition did.
        The ME did not find any evidence of trauma to his neck that was sufficient to stop him from breathing.

  10. All Democrats appear to be alike. They accuse Republicans and Conservatives of doing the exact things that Democrats do. Is this the theme of “Rules For Radicals?”

  11. Polls are dumb, I’M pretty sure it won’t happen in Alaska Our law enforcement won’t put up with that crap nor will the residents

  12. What do you expect with the current batch of politicians that lie steel cheat to get in a place of power and then use the law and money to hold the population in check.
    This problem is largely caused by the politicians and they’re lying and doing anything they can to get into power so they can steal the taxpayers money and hold the law over their head.

  13. One thing that we haven’t discussed here is what happens when the convicted felon trump, wins the election and gets thrown in jail by the judge? What happens then? Does that provoke some to commit felonies of their own, or do they let the justice system play out? The supreme court is going to remain neutral on this because they have no ground to stand on it simply is not their case. Being convicted of 30 plus felonies is no small feat. Trump has said he would fire the prosecutor on day one if he’s elected, but he can’t fire a judge.

    • It is really cute that you still think that conviction is actually proof of anything.
      I know I am not a lawyer, but even with my rudimentary knowledge of law and court proceedings, I know this will not stand up to an appeal. If all charges are not thrown out, and Alvin Bragg censured, I would be surprised. (And, no… I do not actually think the NYC appeals court will do that, I will have to be elevated.)

        • He is a FINO at best.
          .
          As I think I said on another article, if you knew someone who got the treatment Trump did in that courtroom, you would be outraged about it. And, if I remember correctly, you deflected by saying you do not know any felons. Which, also means you have absolutely zero ability to imagine how you would react in a training scenario because…. you are not in the actual situation.
          .
          No, the reality is you were forced to choose. Either admit Trump got shafted in NYC, or deflect, and you chose to deflect.

            • Trump did not present his case. His defense wanted to call a witness from the FEC that would have destroyed the claims of the DA, and the judge denied his defense from doing so.
              .
              And… once again. Deflection. You cannot admit that if you, or someone you know, were treated the way Trump was by Alvin Bragg and Judge Merchan that you would be outraged.
              .
              Nice try though.

    • Since when do Kangaroo Court “felonies” that literally no other person in the United States would be “convicted” on equate to any semblance of anything other than political lawfare? And yes, if / when Trump is elected, of course those who have waged this lawfare have reason for personal concern. Especially if / when both the house and senate are controlled by the Republicans, then the perpetrators of the lawfare like Jamie Ratskin, et.al., will have no voice.

  14. I expect that if Harris wins, she will press for more and more restrictive regulations on the public (especially the objects of “progressive” disdain, until real violence breaks out from pushing too far in the direction of totalitarian control.

  15. Explain to me how J6 was more of a threat to our Constitutional Republic than the Democrats’ coup on Joe Biden? Anyone from the left? Crickets.

  16. I hope I am wrong on this, God I hope so! Yet, the Lower 48 leftist’s, i.e. ANTIFA, BLM, etc. will riot when Trump wins. I have no doubt that our side if Camella wins will do anything violent. Yes, I see loads of lawsuits in the commie states as to election fraud, that is a no brainer.

    We are “safe” here, since ANTIFA/BLM know that we are heavily armed and any rioting will be put down by our police an we the people.

    Could a revolution happen after Camella became President and invoked attempts at confiscation of firearms and the other commie things she will try to do? Yes, that is a real possibility, that scares me even more for a lot of reasons.

    Bottom line is. If Trump gets the Electoral College votes I hope all have plenty of food in storage! I would not doubt, like the 7.2 earthquake the stores will get a panic run on buying and clearing out the shelves.

    My bet is that the riots in the Lower 48 will be substantial from Nov 6 to inauguration day. That is the really scary part. What is scarier is that Biden/Harris will either do nothing or invoke Marital Law and may even try to stop the inauguration (doubt but….) After inauguration of President Trump those riots will stop quickly

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