More murders of business leaders are coming, two-thirds of U.S. likely voters warn in reaction to the recent slaying of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson.
National surveys by Rasmussen, Emerson College Polling and Economist/YouGov all found significant empathy for Thompson’s murder and suspect Luigi Mangione:
- 20% of U.S. adult citizens view Mangione favorably.
- 27% of U.S. likely voters say Thompson’s murder “was an understandable reaction to the high cost of health care in America.”
- 17% of U.S. voters say Thompson’s murder at least “somewhat acceptable,” including eight percent who consider it “completely acceptable.”
Perhaps more disturbing, fully two-thirds (67%) of U.S. likely voters call it at least somewhat likely that the murder of the healthcare CEO “will inspire copycats who target other business executives,” Rasmussen reports.
Of those, 25% call it “very likely” and 42% say it’s “somewhat likely” that copycats will try to kill the heads of other disliked businesses and industries.
While belief that the murder will inspire copycats was consistent among all demographic cohorts in the Rasmussen survey, all three of the national surveys found that empathy for either the murder or suspect is highest among young and Democrat respondents.
Ironically, Mangione has the same favorability (20%) as both FBI Director Christopher Wray and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), the Economist/YouGov poll finds.
Wray has announced that he will resign before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, while Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) will replace McConnell as leader in January when the new Congress convenes and Republicans assume the majority.