What happened
A recent poll of 683 Democratic voters found that 59% of respondents would feel positive about a military coup against President Donald Trump, as long as it was framed as a measure to safeguard the Constitution. The poll, conducted by the Center for Strategic Politics, presented respondents with a scenario in which a group of US military leaders removed Trump from power and assumed control of the United States, citing the need to protect the Constitution.
The results showed that a majority of Democrats supported the idea of a military coup, with 59% saying they would feel positive about it and 43% saying they would feel very positive. In contrast, only 31% of respondents said they would feel positive about a scenario in which Trump was assassinated at a rally, while 43% said they would feel negative about it.
The poll's findings suggest that the way in which a scenario is presented can significantly influence people's reactions to it. In this case, the use of constitutional rhetoric and the involvement of a respected institution like the military made the idea of a coup more palatable to respondents.
The poll also found that respondents who trusted institutions and had higher levels of social trust were more likely to support the idea of a military coup. Among self-described liberals, 66% supported the coup, while 53% said they would feel very positive about it.
The results of the poll have been interpreted as a sign of the growing polarization and distrust of institutions in the United States. Some commentators have argued that the poll's findings are a cause for concern, as they suggest that a significant portion of the Democratic base is willing to support extreme measures to achieve their political goals.
