Polling shows alarming illiberal and anti-American attitudes among U.S. undergraduates, concentrated among liberal and socialist-leaning students
Source: Brianna Lyman. "Poll: 1 In 5 Undergrads Says U.S. Deserved 9/11." October 9, 2026. thefederalist.com
The Gist
The author uses a new survey to argue that a troubling share of college students hold anti-American, anti-free-speech, and pro-violence views. She says these views are most common among liberal and socialism-supporting students, and she treats this as a warning sign for the country.
Conclusion
American college campuses are breeding widespread anti-American, censorious, and pro-violence attitudes, especially among liberal and socialism-favoring students, which is a serious and troubling development for free expression and national cohesion.
Premises
- A Buckley Institute survey of 803 undergraduates found 22% agree America deserved 9/11, including 28% of liberal students.
- The same survey found 45% of students think physical violence can be justified to stop hate speech (54% of liberals vs. 30% of conservatives), and 72% of those students also agree hate speech is protected by the First Amendment.
- 40% of students support criminal prosecution of offensive speech, the highest level in the survey's three years, with liberal students the only ideological group in which a plurality agrees.
- 42% of students prefer socialism to capitalism (a record 14-point gap), and these students are more likely to support shouting down speakers, violence against 'hate speech,' the view that America deserved 9/11, and criminalizing offensive speech.
- Only 65% of students are proud to be American, with liberals the least proud (62%) and conservatives the most (86%).
- Other polling (YouGov, Center for Strategic Politics) and statements by left-wing figures such as Hasan Piker and Aber Kawas show similar tolerance for political violence and 'America deserved 9/11' views on the left.
Assumptions
- The survey sample of 803 students is representative of all American undergraduates.
- Survey responses accurately reflect genuine, considered beliefs rather than question-wording effects, trolling, or misunderstanding.
- Agreeing America 'deserved' 9/11 reflects endorsement of terrorism or deep anti-Americanism rather than a critique of U.S. foreign policy.
- Support for violence against 'hate speech' and for criminalizing offensive speech is a serious threat to free expression, not merely abstract opinion.
- Correlations between socialism preference and illiberal attitudes reveal a meaningful ideological link, not just overlapping demographics.
- Attitudes of a minority of students and a few public figures are meaningful indicators of broader left-wing or generational trends.
- Attitudes expressed in polls translate into real-world behavior or political consequences.