Study Finds Many Americans Okay with Violence Against Tesla, Musk, Trump

A new study says many Americans are okay with political violence. It found 39.8% think it’s fine to wreck Tesla dealerships. And 31.6% say killing Elon Musk could be justified. The numbers come from a survey by the Network Contagion Research Institute, or NCRI. They asked 1,264 people across the U.S., making sure the group matched census data.

Left-Leaning Views Stand Out

The study shows a split by political beliefs. Among those leaning left, 57.6% are okay with smashing Tesla dealerships. Nearly half, 48.6%, think killing Elon Musk makes sense. And 55.2% feel the same about Donald Trump. That’s higher than the overall numbers, where 38.5% justify killing Trump.

Social Media Fuels the Fire

One surprise is how social media plays a part. BlueSky, a platform, is pushing extreme ideas. People are turning Luigi Mangione into a meme. He’s tied to the December 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, Brian Thompson. This trend seems to make violence feel normal online.

How the Study Worked

NCRI teamed up with Rutgers University’s Social Perception Lab for this. They ran the survey in early 2025. The 1,264 people they picked reflect U.S. demographics, race, gender, age, and education. It’s a solid look at what Americans think. The study connects this to bigger tensions, like the Thompson killing late last year.

What the Numbers Say

Here’s the breakdown: 39.8% of everyone surveyed say trashing Tesla dealerships is somewhat okay. For killing Elon Musk, 31.6% agree it’s justified. And 38.5% say that about Trump.

Left-leaning people go higher, 57.6% for dealerships, 48.6% for Musk, 55.2% for Trump. The study links these views to extreme left-wing ideas and the Thompson case.

Survey Data on Attitudes Toward Political Violence

Category	Overall Respondents (%)	Left-of-Center Respondents (%)
Destroying Tesla Dealerships	39.8	57.6
Killing Elon Musk	31.6	48.6
Killing Donald Trump	38.5	55.2

Expert Weighs In

Joel Finkelstein, who led the study and started NCRI, talked to Fox News. He said,

“What was formerly taboo culturally has become acceptable. We are seeing a clear shift – glorification, increased attempts, and changing norms – all converging into what we define as ‘assassination culture’.”

This could mean trouble for stability and safety. The study warns that such high support, especially on the left, might lead to real attacks. Tesla dealerships have already faced firebombs, though the study doesn’t list those cases. It’s part of the bigger picture.

News Coverage Grows

The study dropped on April 7, 2025. Many agree that an “assassination culture” is forming, tied to politics and online chatter. The stats hold across reports.

This NCRI survey paints a grim picture of 2025 America. Lots of people, especially left-leaners, are fine with violence against big names and property.

Here’s a video on the NCRI study:

Assassination Culture Brief by Simon Alvarez, NCRI, on Scribd:

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