Americans are dangerously divided on the insurrection

By joining with other Republicans who don’t endorse violence but believe Trump’s lies—or who know what happened but want to bury it—these pro-insurrection Republicans have gained control of the party. Fifty percent of Republicans blame the Capitol attack on “left-wing protesters trying to make Trump look bad,” and 60 percent blame it on Biden, Democrats, or Antifa. (Another 16 percent blame the U.S. Capitol police. Only 25 percent blame Trump, Republicans, or white nationalists.) Three-quarters of Republicans say it’s “time to move on” and forget the attack, and more Republicans say the perpetrators shouldn’t be prosecuted (about 40 percent of the party) than say they should. That’s why Senate Republicans blocked a commission: By exposing and addressing the truth, it would upset their supporters. The consolidation of this anti-truth coalition—and the prospect that it will take control of Congress in next year’s election—is a serious threat to the republic. But even if Republicans lose the midterms, there are broader signs of trouble. White people, for instance, make up 72 percent of the U.S. electorate, and they’re evenly split on whether voter fraud influenced the outcome of the 2020 election. When they’re asked which of two objectives is more important—“putting the attack on the U.S. Capitol behind us” or “holding Trump and others accountable for their role in the attack”—50 percent of white Americans say we should put the episode behind us. Only 36 percent say we should hold Trump and others accountable.