A recent poll conducted by Emerson College Polling has revealed startling insights about young Americans' attitudes toward the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Following Thompson's fatal shooting on December 4, 2024, it appears there is a significant generational divide on the issue, with 41% of voters aged 18-29 deeming the killer's actions acceptable.
This poll, which surveyed 1,200 registered voters from December 11 to December 13, found overall societal rejection of the act, with 68% of the general populace condemning the murder. Yet, among younger voters, only 40% found it unacceptable, indicating nearly equal division on the matter. Spencer Kimball, the executive director of Emerson College Polling, noted this trend is indicative of shifting societal attitudes, remarking, "The data underscored shifting societal attitudes among the youngest electorate and within party lines."
Thompson was shot just outside Hilton Hotel as he approached for a meeting with potential investors. The FBI has launched investigations, and the suspected assassin, Luigi Mangione, 26, was apprehended on December 9 at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s following reports of his demeanor and the presence of his alleged manifesto. This document, which reportedly called healthcare companies "parasites," has become pivotal to discussions about Mangione’s motives.
While the poll did not directly investigate motivations for the killing, it highlights the frustrations many young Americans feel toward corporate practices, especially within healthcare. The poll found especially notable differences along partisan lines. Among Democrats, 22% found the killing acceptable, contrasted with just 12% of Republicans and 16% of Independents. This divide speaks volumes about the broader cultural and ideological rifts influencing generational perspectives.
The incident has incited considerable discourse across social media platforms, where reactions varied. Some users celebrated Thompson's death, which New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch condemned during comments made shortly following the incident. She stated, "Social media has erupted with praise for this cowardly attack. People ghoulishly plastered posters threatening other CEOs... These are the threats of a lawless, violent mob who would trade in their own vigilantism for the rule of law."
These sentiments echo larger frustrations with the American healthcare system. Critics have long surmised the system to be complex, convoluted, and access-limiting. Senator Bernie Sanders remarked on the topic, calling out the broken and cruel nature of existing systems, saying, "What you're seeing, the outpouring of anger at the insurance companies, is a reflection of how people feel about the current health care system. It is broken. It is cruel." Such critiques gain momentum when incidents like Thompson's murder come to light, showcasing how systemic failures can spark visceral responses from the public.
Protests against corporate greed have increased, and notions of heroism have been wrongly assigned as justifications for violence. A legal defense fund for Mangione has already amassed over $120,000, indicative of how deeply divisions run within public sentiment. Many of his supporters advocate for him as if he were some form of vigilante hero, reflecting the breakdown of consensus around acceptable means of fostering change within the healthcare system.
But beyond the polarized opinions concerning Mangione's guilt or heroism, the reality remains stark. This was not just a matter of one person’s acts but the result of cumulative public resentment directed at healthcare corporations seen as failing the very people they serve.
Thompson's assassination is not simply another headline; it is emblematic of larger social issues and systematic discontent manifesting through acts of violence. The path forward remains fraught, as society grapples with the realities of the healthcare industry and its consequences.
Moving forward, Mangione’s upcoming court dates raise questions about the application of justice, and whether this incident might catalyze broader discussions about corporate accountability and the moral ramifications of perceived injustices within the healthcare field. He is scheduled to face preliminary hearings on gun charges and proceeding over extradition to New York, where he faces serious murder charges.
