Broad bipartisan consensus in favor of increased government action to combat antisemitism; nearly one in four Americans say recent attacks were “understandable”; 30 percent say Jews have too much influence in politics and media; 27 percent say American Jews should answer for the actions of Israel
New York, NY, July 11, 2025 … In the wake of the three recent violent incidents against Jewish Americans – arson at Governor Josh Shapiro’s residence and deadly attacks in Washington D.C. and Boulder, CO – the ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) Center for Antisemitism Research conducted a nationally representative survey to assess the national mood toward antisemitism. Findings show that many Americans harbor extreme anti-Jewish views—including some who justify or excuse violence against Jewish Americans.
Nearly one in four Americans (24 percent) said the attacks were “understandable” and a similar percentage believed they were false flag operations meant to increase support for Israel. Moreover, 22 percent said the incidents were not antisemitic, 15 percent said the violence was "necessary," 14 percent didn’t consider them hate crimes and 13 percent said they were "justified."
The survey further found that 60 percent of Americans —across age, political leanings, and views on Israel— at least somewhat agree that antisemitism is a serious problem.
- Substantial portions of both Democrat and Republican respondents – Democrats at 25 percent and Republicans at 23 percent – also expressed concern about antisemitism within their own ranks.
- Older Americans are more likely to think anti-Jewish prejudice is a serious problem. Among the Silent Generation and Baby Boomers, 80 percent and 64 percent agreed with this statement. Slightly more than half of Millennials and Gen Z think anti-Jewish prejudice is a serious problem.
“As the Jewish community is still reeling from recent antisemitic attacks that killed three people, it’s unacceptable that one-quarter of Americans find this unspeakable violence understandable or justified—an alarming sign of how antisemitic narratives are accepted by the mainstream” said Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO and National Director. "The torrent of antisemitic hate has continuously increased since Oct. 7, 2023, with Jews being harassed and targeted, blamed and attacked, wounded and killed. The bipartisan majority of the American public must act.”
Other key findings
Significant number of Americans hold troubling beliefs about Jews:
- 34 percent believe Jewish Americans are more loyal to Israel than to the U.S.
- 30 percent say Jews have too much influence in politics and media.
- 27 percent believe Jewish Americans should answer for the actions of Israel.
Anti-Israel Protests and Rhetoric:
- Overall, nearly one-third (29 percent) of Americans view anti-Israel protesters favorably.
- While 59 percent of Gen Z hold favorable views, favorability decreases sharply with age (29 percent of Millennials, 16 percent of Baby Boomers, and 27 percent of the Silent Generation.)
- 58 percent of Americans believe that when protesters use the term "Zionist," they mean Jewish people in general.
- 68 percent said slogans like “Globalize the Intifada” or “From the River to the Sea” increase the risk of violence against Jews.
- 34 percent say they don’t know what “anti-Zionism” means.
Support for meaningful action against anti-Jewish prejudice and violence among Americans surveyed:
- 82 percent support removing online hate speech that celebrates violence.
- 77 percent want more government action to combat antisemitism.
“A majority of Americans support a range of federal, state and local interventions – we have a window of opportunity to take action and seriously address the scourge of antisemitism before it normalizes,” said Matt Williams, Vice President of the ADL Center for Antisemitism Research. “While it is clear in our research that millions of Americans still hold extreme and conspiratorial beliefs, we see that most Americans reject antisemitism, violence against Jews and hateful rhetoric, and want to take meaningful steps to stop it.”
This survey was fielded among a nationally representative sample of 1000 Americans on June 10, 2025, via the Ipsos Observer Omnibus, a non-probability panel.
ADL is the leading anti-hate organization in the world. Founded in 1913, its timeless mission is “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.” Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of antisemitism and bias, using innovation and partnerships to drive impact. A global leader in combating antisemitism, countering extremism and battling bigotry wherever and whenever it happens, ADL works to protect democracy and ensure a just and inclusive society for all. More at www.adl.org.
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