Majority of Americans Fear Imminent Civil War, New Poll Reveals

A recent poll conducted by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights reveals that a significant majority of Americans believe the country is heading toward a second civil war. The survey, carried out between October 30 and November 6, 2023, shows that 57 percent of respondents fear escalating political divisions could lead to internal conflict.

The poll highlights several pressing concerns among the American populace. A staggering 89 percent of those surveyed expressed that they feel consumers are sacrificing too much privacy to large technology companies. Additionally, 76 percent voiced apprehension about threats to freedom of speech, 73 percent indicated that the government is not doing enough to protect minority rights, and 69 percent felt that democracy itself is under threat. Furthermore, 60 percent noted worsening race relations in the country.

On the MSNBC program “Morning Joe,” Maya Wiley, president and CEO of the organization behind the poll, discussed the findings, stating that U.S. voters are “very much afraid about the state of our union.” As President Donald Trump approaches the end of his second term, Wiley remarked that public fears about the future of democracy rank alongside concerns about inflation and affordability. She emphasized that voters perceive a multitude of interconnected issues, asserting, “All of these things come together for them.”

Wiley attributed some of this anxiety to the Trump administration’s policies, particularly its handling of undocumented migrants. She suggested that the ongoing violation of rights and freedoms visible in news reports cultivates a sense of fear that federal agents could infringe upon anyone’s liberties. “We are being driven apart, rather than being united and held together,” she stated.

Despite the apprehensions reflected in the poll, there is a notable positive takeaway: 88 percent of respondents believe that America’s diversity strengthens the nation. Wiley interpreted this as a rejection of extremism and hate, stating, “Permission to extremism, permission to hate, and the attempts to divide are not landing well, and that’s a good thing.”

An additional poll, released earlier in the same week, echoes these sentiments, revealing that most Americans attribute the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk to “extreme political rhetoric” rather than solely blaming the actions of the perpetrator. This reflects a growing concern about the implications of political discourse and its potential to incite violence.

The idea of the U.S. descending into civil conflict has also been popularized in media, such as in the recent film Civil War by Alex Garland. Influential podcaster Joe Rogan recently suggested that reactions to Kirk’s assassination could signify a serious societal divide, stating, “Regular people celebrating somebody getting murdered… you’re in dark territory.”

The reactions to Kirk’s death have sparked intense debate across the political spectrum. On Fox News, host Jesse Watters claimed that “they are at war with us,” though he did not specify who he was referencing. This rhetoric further inflames the already volatile political climate.

Since taking office, Trump has consistently engaged in combative rhetoric, often targeting both Democrats and members of his own party. Recently, he threatened retaliation against congressional Democrats involved in efforts to release Justice Department files related to Jeffrey Epstein. In a post on Truth Social, Trump accused Democratic senators and representatives of “seditious behavior” and called for their arrest.

With tensions running high and the political landscape increasingly fraught, the findings of the Leadership Conference poll serve as a stark reminder of the divisions that characterize contemporary American society. As the nation navigates these complexities, the concern that the U.S. may be on a path towards civil unrest remains a pressing issue for many citizens.