January 15, 2021
Trump & The Insurrection
NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist National Poll
Majority of Americans Blame Trump for U.S. Capitol Insurrection… Divide About Further Congressional Action
A majority of Americans (58%) blame President Donald Trump either a great deal (45%) or good amount (13%) for the violent insurrection that occurred at the Capitol last week. However, they divide about continued congressional action against the president after he leaves office.
The proportion of Americans who blame Trump has declined from 63% in a poll conducted the day after the riots.
While a majority of Americans place some degree of blame on the president, there is a wide partisan divide. 92% of Democrats, 55% of independents, and 17% of Republicans blame Trump. Most Republicans (82%), though, think Trump deserves little or no blame.
49% of Americans say Congress should continue to take action against Trump for the insurrection after he leaves office. 48% say they should not.
Partisan politics factor in. 84% of Democrats think Congress should move forward. However, 88% of Republicans and 55% of independents disagree.
50% of Americans think social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter should not continue to restrict Trump after he leaves office. 43% believe they should.
Most Democrats (73%) say Trump should be restricted on social media beyond his term. In contrast, 79% of the GOP and 56% of independents think Trump should be allowed back on these platforms.
Six in ten U.S. residents (60%), little changed from 64% last week, consider the results of the 2020 election to be accurate. 38% say they are not. 92% of Democrats and 56% of independents think the election results are accurate. 78% of Republicans and most Trump voters disagree.
“The attack on the U.S. Capitol reinforced the fault lines in the partisan divide,” says Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of The Marist Poll. “There is no indication of the nation coming together regarding the steps Congress should take against the president. Simply put, it is a far cry from any sense of unity going forward.”