A recent Axios article, published on July 7, 2025, reveals a disturbing trend among some Democratic voters who are urging their congressional representatives to adopt violent tactics in opposition to President Donald Trump’s agenda. Based on interviews with over two dozen House Democrats, the report highlights a growing anger within the party’s base, particularly among affluent, well-educated white voters in upscale suburban and urban areas. These constituents are expressing frustration with what they perceive as insufficient resistance to Trump’s policies, with some explicitly calling for “blood” and suggesting lawmakers should be “willing to get shot” during protests at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities or federal agencies to gain media and public attention. Others have dismissed civility as ineffective, advocating for “violence … to fight to protect our democracy.”

The article notes that this rhetoric has fueled a disregard for American institutions, political norms, and even the rule of law, leaving Democratic lawmakers alarmed yet constrained by their minority status in Congress. Some lawmakers reported receiving extreme demands, such as calls to “storm the White House,” though they often downplayed these as online hyperbole. The report also cites incidents of Democratic officials engaging in confrontational acts, like heckling or shouting down Trump administration figures, which have been met with approval from their base