A new study conducted by the Network Contagion Research Institute, NCRI, has revealed a sharp rise in violent political rhetoric, including calls for the assassination of public figures—most notably President Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
The report alleges that such assassination rhetoric is becoming increasingly normalised within the United States, particularly among individuals aligned with the political left. According to Fox News, the NCRI report found that a growing number of Americans are now willing to justify the killing of public figures.
Joel Finkelstein, the lead author of the report, told Fox News Digital on Monday that “what was formerly taboo culturally has become acceptable”.
“We are witnessing a clear shift: glorification, increased attempts, and changing norms are all converging into what we define as ‘assassination culture’,”; he said.
The NCRI study traces the phenomenon back to the assassination of Brian Thompson, Chief Executive Officer of UnitedHealthcare, by Luigi Mangione in December 2024. What followed, according to the researchers, was a viral wave of memes that transformed Mangione into a folk hero.
The study contends that these memes have inspired copycat behaviour, with new threats now targeting other individuals associated with wealth and conservative politics.
DAILY POST reports that the Trump administration continues to face staunch opposition owing to policies perceived as unfavourable by its critics. A nationwide protest took place on Saturday, during which demonstrators demanded that President Trump relinquish control of the nation's affairs.
