4 in 5 Americans say they believe the United States is falling apart, reveals survey
File image: Trump supporters swarming the Capitol on 6 January
(AP)Four in every five Americans, both Democrats and Republicans, believe that the US is falling apart, according to a survey which was released a week after the violence at the Capitol by Donald Trump’s supporters.
The Axios-Ipsos survey, conducted between 11-13 January, included just over 1,000 adults. It found that support for removing Mr Trump from office has climbed five points compared to last week after his supporters ran riot in Washington, delaying the certification of Joe Biden’s election victory.
The survey was conducted before Mr Trump was formally impeached for a second time. It found that 56 per cent of Americans wanted the immediate removal of President Trump from office, even though as Mr Biden is set to enter the White House on 20 January.
Those who want his immediate removal are mostly Democrats, however, with only 17 per cent of Republicans favouring it, the survey said.
The president, however, continues to enjoy the overwhelming back from those who self-identify as longstanding Trump supporters. Of these, 94 per cent said they were against him being removed from office and only one per cent would consider the idea.
According to the survey, over 25 per cent of Americans support Mr Trump’s efforts to contest the election results.
The survey asked respondents whether they identified as Trump supporters or traditional GOP voters, and 46 per cent of the latter group also supported Mr Trump in questioning the election.
The survey found that 92 per cent of Trump supporters and 41 per cent of traditional Republican voters agree that Mr Trump should be the Republican candidate for the 2024 presidential elections.
On Thursday, the FBI director Christopher Wray cautioned that they are tracking calls for potential armed protests and activity leading up to Mr Biden’s inauguration next week.
"We’re concerned about the potential for violence at multiple protests and rallies planned here in DC and at state capital buildings around the country in the days to come that could bring armed individuals within close proximity to government buildings and officials,” said Mr Wray in a briefing with vice president Mike Pence.
The president was impeached by the House of Representatives on Wednesday for the second time – a first for any US president – after his supporters wrought havoc at the Capitol. A Senate trial is scheduled for after the inauguration, and it remains to be seen whether the necessary two-thirds majority will be achieved to find Mr Trump guilty of the charge of incitement to insurrection.
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