(The Hill) – A fifth of Americans said they have a lot of confidence in the Secret Service to protect presidential candidates from harm, according to a new poll conducted after the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally.
According to a snap poll from YouGov, released Sunday, 20 percent of U.S. adults said they are “very confident” in the Secret Service’s ability to shield White House candidates from harm. Forty-five percent said they were “somewhat confident,” while 17 percent said they were “not very confident.”
About 7 percent said they were “not at all confident” and 11 percent said they were not sure, according to the poll.
The poll was conducted shortly after an attempted assassination of Trump took place Saturday at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, wounding the former president and killing one attendee. The former president said a bullet pierced his ear.
The U.S. Secret Service said the gunman, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pa., was killed shortly after shots rang out.
The shooting sent shockwaves throughout the nation and world, prompting widespread condemnation of political violence.
BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA – JULY 13: Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is shown covered by U.S. Secret Service agents after an incident during a rally on July 13, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania. Butler County district attorney Richard Goldinger said the shooter is dead after injuring former U.S. President Donald Trump, killing one audience member and injuring another in the shooting. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) 
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is covered by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) 
A campaign rally site for Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is empty and littered with debris Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) 
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surround by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign event in Butler, Pa., Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) 
BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA – JULY 13: Attendees scatter after gunfire rang out during a campaign rally for Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump at Butler Farm Show Inc. on July 13, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania. Trump slumped before being whisked away by Secret Service with injuries visible to the side of his head. Butler County district attorney Richard Goldinger said the shooter and one audience member are dead and another was injured. (Photo by Jeff Swensen/Getty Images) 
BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA – JULY 13: Supporters seek shade while waiting in 92-degree weather for the start of a campaign rally for Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump, at Butler Farm Show Inc. on July 13, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania. Shortly after Trump began to speak, shots rang out and the former president slumped before being whisked away by Secret Service with injuries visible to the side of his head. Butler County district attorney Richard Goldinger said the shooter and one audience member are dead and another was injured. (Photo by Jeff Swensen/Getty Images) 
U.S. Secret Service agents converge to cover Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) 
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is moved from the stage at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) 
U.S. Secret Service agents converge to cover Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) 
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
YouGov also found 67 percent of U.S. adults said today’s political environment makes politically motivated violence more likely, while just eight percent said it makes it less likely.
Ten percent said the current political climate makes politically motivated violence the same as usual and 14 percent said they were not sure, YouGov reported.
Exactly half — 50 percent — of U.S. adults said political violence is a “very big problem,” while 32 percent said it is “somewhat” of an issue. About 8 percent said it is not very much of a problem, while about 2 percent said it is not a problem, pollsters found. Eight percent said they were not sure.
Trump on Sunday called on Americans to unite, adding that, “God alone prevented the unthinkable from happening.”
“In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand United, and show our True Character as Americans, remaining Strong and Determined, and not allowing Evil to Win,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. “I truly love our Country, and love you all, and look forward to speaking to our Great Nation this week from Wisconsin.”
YouGov surveyed 4,339 American adults in the poll on July 14. A margin of error was not immediately available, and The Hill reached out to the pollsters for more information.
