“Assassination Culture” on the Rise: Shocking New Study Exposes Fallout of Trump’s Surging Power, with new data revealing how political discourse in the U.S. is rapidly shifting toward dangerous levels of extremism—especially as Trump reclaims national influence.
What Is “Assassination Culture”? A Clear Breakdown
“Assassination Culture” refers to the growing normalization of political violence, especially online, where memes, satire, and commentary are turning real threats into viral entertainment. This shift is making it more acceptable for some communities to publicly justify or even glorify violence against political figures.
Key Elements of Assassination Culture:
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Meme-based Radicalization | Violent acts are gamified through humor and memes |
| Online Polarization | Social platforms amplify radical rhetoric without consequence |
| Political Icon Targeting | Public figures (e.g., Trump, Musk) become symbols for violence |
| Cultural Shift Toward Justifying | Surveys show a rising % of citizens justify political assassination |
| Loss of Moral Boundaries | Mainstream discourse tolerates or celebrates extremist behavior |
What the New Study Found: Disturbing Data
The Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) conducted a comprehensive study with over 1,200 U.S. adults, and the numbers are staggering:
- 38% of Americans said it would be “somewhat justified” to assassinate Trump
- That number climbs to 55% among left-leaning participants
- 31% of all respondents felt the same toward Elon Musk
- On progressive platforms like BlueSky, meme-driven violence receives support and shares
The December 2024 assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson went viral, with his killer Luigi Mangione hailed as a folk hero across radical communities.
How Trump’s Influence Fuels Assassination Culture
Here’s a simple map to visualize how political power dynamics are linked to the rise of extremist behavior:
+-----------------------------+
| Trump’s Growing Power |
+-----------------------------+
↓
+---------------------+
| Media Polarization |
+---------------------+
↓
+-------------------------+
| Meme-Driven Extremism |
+-------------------------+
↓
+---------------------------+
| "Assassination Culture" |
+---------------------------+
↓
+---------------------------+--------------------------+
| Public Normalization | Platforms Amplify Threats |
+---------------------------+--------------------------+
The Role of Platforms: From Satire to Serious Risk
While once limited to dark corners of the web, this culture is now mainstream on platforms like BlueSky, where fringe voices find community support. NCRI researchers point out that these discussions aren’t always overt—they’re often disguised as jokes, layered in memes, or coded in language to evade moderation.
Moderation failures, combined with virality algorithms, are helping extreme views go viral—turning violent rhetoric into digital currency for engagement.
The Real-World Risk: Why This Trend Endangers Democracy
This isn’t just “edgy” internet content. History shows that normalized violent speech can lead to actual violence. Political leaders, media influencers, and platform owners must now decide: Will we condemn this culture, or allow it to grow?
Failing to address this issue means increasing risk for high-profile assassinations, civil unrest, and further erosion of America’s democratic norms.
Conclusion: A National Wake-Up Call
This growing “Assassination Culture” isn’t a fringe issue—it’s a national security threat. With Trump’s power intensifying, the U.S. is witnessing an erosion of boundaries between dissent and danger. The public, platforms, and policymakers must take action.
There must be renewed public condemnation, platform regulation, and civic education to combat this cultural trend before it turns deadly again.
[USnewsSphere.com / NCRI]
