Published 2 days ago • loading... • Updated 1 day ago
Terrorism Fears in US Have Eased Since 9/11, but so Has Confidence in Government Protection: Poll
Gallup says fear of terrorism has eased, but confidence in the U.S. government’s ability to protect citizens has fallen to 55%.
A recent Gallup poll reveals 64% of Americans believe the terrorist attacks permanently changed how the nation lives, while public confidence in the government's ability to protect citizens has dropped to 55%, tying a historical low.
Growing political polarization drives this decline in trust, as confidence now depends on which party holds the presidency, with the opposition party exhibiting significantly lower trust than out-of-power parties did in previous decades.
Under the current Republican administration, 78% of Republicans express confidence compared to 29% of Democrats; this represents a sharp reversal from 2021 during President Joe Biden's presidency, when 80% of Democrats and 41% of Republicans felt confident.
Despite the widespread belief that society shifted, far fewer Americans report that their personal lives changed long-term even 25 years later, with only 28% saying the tragedy permanently changed how they live and 37% worrying about terrorism.
Public confidence in the government to protect citizens has dropped from 88% shortly after the attacks to 55% today, marking a substantial decline from the 75% recorded 15 years ago.
Fear of national extremists now overshadows foreign plots as an ideology-driven threat; most Americans agree with the strengthening of airport security, but not with internal surveillance