41% of young Americans consider killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson ‘acceptable’: Survey

A recent poll revealed that 41 percent of young Americans believe the actions of Luigi Mangione, accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, were “acceptable.” The poll was conducted by Emerson College, which found that 24 percent of those surveyed thought the killing was somewhat acceptable, while 17 percent thought it was completely justified.

Mangione, a 26-year-old Ivy League graduate, has been convicted of shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside the Hilton Hotel in Manhattan on December 4. The incident has sparked a variety of reactions from people, especially on social media, with some going so far as to call Mangione a hero. There have been memes, jokes, and even calls for violence against other healthcare executives.

Former Washington Post journalist Taylor Lorenz stirred up further controversy by posting about the killing, in which she said, “And people wonder why we want these officers dead,”

expressing frustration with insurance companies refusing to provide life-saving treatment. Others, such as University of Pennsylvania professor Julia Alexeyeva, publicly supported Mangione on social media and called him an “icon,” according to the New York Post. There is a lot of public anger following the incident, with some defending the accused and even setting up legal funds to support him. Anger is also directed at those who helped law enforcement agencies catch Mangione, including a McDonald’s employee who told police he was eating at one of their restaurants.

The killing has sparked widespread discussion about the healthcare system in the US, where many feel the practices of insurance companies are harmful. Although the survey showed that 68 percent of Americans do not approve of the killing, it’s clear that the tragic event has exposed divisions, especially among young people. AXIOS reported that men were slightly more likely to justify the killer’s actions than women, and the political divide was clear: 22 percent of Democrats thought the killing was acceptable, while only 12 percent of Republicans thought so.

Other recent data shows that Americans are becoming more accepting of violence. A survey conducted last year by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) found that a quarter of Americans agreed with the statement, “Patriots may have to resort to violence to save the country.” This was the highest level of support for this idea in nearly three years, marking a significant shift since the beginning of Donald Trump’s first term.