25 Years After 9/11: Reuters/Ipsos Poll Reveals Domestic Extremism and Mass Violence Outweigh Foreign Terror Fears in America
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Two and a half decades after the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the psychological landscape of the United States has undergone a fundamental transformation. While the deep scars of the historic attacks remain etched in the national consciousness, a comprehensive new Reuters/Ipsos poll reveals that Americans are no longer primarily driven by fears of foreign terrorist organizations like Al-Qaeda. Instead, public concern has shifted inward, with citizens identifying domestic extremists and random acts of mass violence as the most pressing security threats facing the nation today, marking a stark ideological divergence from the post-9/11 era.
Detailed Breakdown of Security Concerns: Mass Shootings and Domestic Terrorism Lead the Polls
According to the latest survey data evaluating public safety threats, 33 percent of respondents pin domestic terrorism as the single biggest danger to ordinary Americans, while foreign terrorism accounts for 20 percent. Meanwhile, a staggering 42 percent categorize random acts of mass violence—such as public shootings and stabbings—as their paramount safety concern. This represents a distinct shift over the past decade; a comparable survey conducted in 2013 showed that 21 percent feared domestic terrorism, 28 percent worried about foreign threats, and 51 percent prioritized sudden public violence. When specifically asked to weigh ideologically motivated actors, 61 percent of Americans point to domestic extremists compared to 34 percent who fear foreign networks.
Public Attitudes on National Security, Surveillance, and Post-9/11 Military Interventions
The poll also sheds light on contemporary American attitudes toward state security measures and historical military engagements. While approximately 60 percent of citizens frequently reflect upon the legacy of 9/11 and express support for decisive military retaliation in the face of a major national security threat, public boundaries regarding civil liberties remain firm. A decisive 65 percent of Americans strongly oppose domestic electronic surveillance of citizens without a judicial warrant, even as baseline airport security measures maintain widespread approval. Furthermore, retrospective evaluations of foreign interventions remain largely critical: a majority of Americans view the post-9/11 wars in Afghanistan and Iraq as non-beneficial, while ongoing skepticism extends to recent military engagements, with only 25 percent viewing current conflicts as worthwhile and 54 percent dismissing them as ineffective.
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