A strong majority of Americans say political leaders should avoid using heated or aggressive language — even if they feel passionate about an issue.
According to a new Pew Research Center survey, 78% of U.S. adults believe elected officials should steer clear of fiery rhetoric because it could push some people toward violence. Just 20% say it’s fine for politicians to speak that way regardless of how others might react.
That sentiment crosses party lines.
About 83% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents say politicians should avoid aggressive speech — a view that’s remained steady since 2019. Among Republicans and GOP-leaning independents, support for toning down the language has grown, rising from 61% in 2019 to 75% in the latest poll.
The findings are based on a national survey of 3,554 adults conducted August 4–10, 2025.
The data comes as many Americans say they’ve noticed an uptick in politically motivated violence and fear that angry political discourse may be fueling the fire.
Pew Research Center noted a correction to the original report, clarifying that 61% of Republicans supported more careful language in 2019 — not a different year as originally stated.
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